Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and New Plymouth Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and New Plymouth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,954 in New Plymouth, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,039 in New Plymouth, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,123 in New Plymouth, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 51% cheaper than New Plymouth, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while New Plymouth is 42% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿68.8

$14.90 NZ$25.33

-85.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿651

$70.0 NZ$119

-71.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$10.42 NZ$17.71

-44.43%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.0

$3.51 NZ$5.97

-47.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ฿25.43

$2.24 NZ$3.81

-65.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.30

$1.93 NZ$3.28

-83.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.7

$5.33 NZ$9.07

-56.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿121

$6.00 NZ$10.20

-38.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.6

$1.88 NZ$3.19

7.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.4

$1.66 NZ$2.82

-3.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.43

$1.73 NZ$2.94

-17.92%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.4

$6.77 NZ$11.51

-67.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿522

$7.41 NZ$12.59

114.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$12.89 NZ$21.91

-76.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$12.21 NZ$20.75

-19.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.2

$2.72 NZ$4.62

-3.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿35.94

$1.98 NZ$3.36

-44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.5

$3.21 NZ$5.46

-49.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$6.60 NZ$11.23

-76.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.84

$2.53 NZ$4.31

-50.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.11

$1.47 NZ$2.50

-23.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.21

$1.95 NZ$3.32

-62.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.37

$1.32 NZ$2.25

-62.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿140

$23.53 NZ$39.99

-81.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿590

$8.57 NZ$14.57

109.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$3.08 NZ$5.24

-44.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.0

$3.95 NZ$6.71

-26.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.91

$1.78 NZ$3.03

-47.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,814

$77.5 NZ$132

-28.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.48

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.22

$1.76 NZ$2.99

-18.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿695.3K

$46.3K NZ$78.7K

-54.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿895.9K

$24.9K NZ$42.3K

9.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$64.9 ฿2,130

$131 NZ$223

-50.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.35 ฿438

$29.98 NZ$51.0

-55.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿684

$49.00 NZ$83.3

-57.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,326

$44.22 NZ$75.2

-8.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿220

$8.56 NZ$14.56

-21.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$787 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,845

$86.9 NZ$148

-35.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿819

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,042

$92.9 NZ$158

-0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,465

$118 NZ$200

-36.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$947 NZ$1,609

-48.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,425

$868 NZ$1,475

-66.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.8K

$1,800 NZ$3,060

-49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$1,640 NZ$2,788

-67.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.0K

$3,393 NZ$5,767

-41.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.6K

$2,739 NZ$4,655

-47.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$2,889 NZ$4,911

-79.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.93

-6.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for New Plymouth: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $947 in New Plymouth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 377% higher in New Plymouth, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $70.0 in New Plymouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $339 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs New Plymouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Plymouth costs about 106% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,931 in New Plymouth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 40% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 40% more in New Plymouth, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in New Plymouth at $1,954. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Plymouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,954 in New Plymouth. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Plymouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.