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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,799 in New Providence, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,611 in New Providence, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,423 in New Providence, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 52% cheaper than New Providence, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while New Providence is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$29.59 BSD 29.59

-93.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$121 BSD 121

-84.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.63 BSD 9.63

-22.33%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$6.33 BSD 6.33

-68.09%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$4.65 BSD 4.65

-81.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$3.47 BSD 3.47

-89.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$9.04 BSD 9.04

-76.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.56 BSD 4.56

-21.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$3.01 BSD 3.01

-45.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$4.83 BSD 4.83

-67.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$6.45 BSD 6.45

-81.55%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$6.64 BSD 6.64

-70.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$13.69 BSD 13.69

18.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$8.47 BSD 8.47

-64.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.24 BSD 13.24

-17.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.89 BSD 2.89

-6.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$4.14 BSD 4.14

-71.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$4.46 BSD 4.46

-62.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.12 BSD 3.12

-48.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$3.17 BSD 3.17

-56.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$2.43 BSD 2.43

-50.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$2.62 BSD 2.62

-74.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$2.43 BSD 2.43

-76.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$12.13 BSD 12.13

-61.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$24.63 BSD 24.63

-28.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$3.40 BSD 3.40

-45.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.94 BSD 3.94

-16.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$1.29 BSD 1.29

-31.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$59.5 BSD 59.5

-86.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

$40.55 BSD 40.55

-65.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$100.0 BSD 100.0

-82.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$74.7 BSD 74.7

-43.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$15.28 BSD 15.28

-61.26%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$1,482 BSD 1,482

-70.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$694 BSD 694

-65.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$4,587 BSD 4,587

-88.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for New Providence: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $1,482 in New Providence. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $121 in New Providence. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $455 – 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 Providence: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Providence costs about 109% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,698 in New Providence. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $1,799 in New Providence. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 87% more in New Providence, 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 $861, than in New Providence at $1,799. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Providence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,799 in New Providence. 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 Providence makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.