Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Newport News, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,521 in Newport News, VA, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
120

Cost of Living Index in Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Newport News, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,521

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Newport News, VA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Newport News, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,521 in Newport News, VA, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Newport News, VA $2,521

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,659 in Newport News, VA, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Newport News, VA $3,659

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,797 in Newport News, VA, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Newport News, VA $4,797

Chiang Mai is about 63% cheaper than Newport News, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Newport News, VA is 86% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.6

$24.12 $24.12

-91.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿625

$61.0 $61.0

-69.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$10.32 $10.32

-45.74%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.8

$6.08 $6.08

-72.70%

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

$0.65 ฿21.70

$2.59 $2.59

-74.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.23

$1.99 $1.99

-84.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.9

$8.12 $8.12

-71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$8.18 $8.18

-55.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.6

$0.95 $0.95

112.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.24

$3.68 $3.68

-61.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.69

$3.44 $3.44

-59.59%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.4

$2.89 $2.89

-17.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿554

$7.59 $7.59

117.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.6

$11.21 $11.21

-76.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$18.58 $18.58

-51.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.5

$7.47 $7.47

-67.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.93

$1.02 $1.02

1.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.7

$5.04 $5.04

-67.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.3

$4.07 $4.07

-61.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.52

$2.74 $2.74

-54.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.46

$3.15 $3.15

-65.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.56

$2.11 $2.11

-63.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.25

$2.66 $2.66

-80.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$9.01 $9.01

-54.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿602

$15.97 $15.97

12.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.5

$1.70 $1.70

-4.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.7

$5.67 $5.67

-50.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.35

$2.04 $2.04

-54.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,775

$55.3 $55.3

-4.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.48

$3.75 $3.75

-68.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.75

$1.29 $1.29

-86.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$24.97 $24.97

-92.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.41

$0.97 $0.97

51.55%

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

$21.0K ฿705.0K

$27.7K $27.7K

-24.25%

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

$26.5K ฿889.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.37%

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

$62.6 ฿2,099

$208 $208

-69.96%

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

$11.60 ฿389

$81.6 $81.6

-85.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿681

$79.2 $79.2

-74.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,271

$53.8 $53.8

-29.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$13.43 $13.43

-51.53%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$2,912 $2,912

-75.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿556.1K

$16.6K $16.6K

-0.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,796

$54.8 $54.8

-2.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿832

$44.34 $44.34

-44.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,032

$104 $104

-13.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,415

$128 $128

-43.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$1,390 $1,390

-65.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$1,079 $1,079

-71.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$1,922 $1,922

-44.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$1,733 $1,733

-61.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.1K

$2,436 $2,436

-0.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.0K

$1,998 $1,998

-19.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

$3,890 $3,890

-84.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.54

-14.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Newport News, VA: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Newport News, VA

$1.1K 42.8% 248% $770

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Newport News, VA

$397 15.7% 67.7% $160

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Newport News, VA

$149 5.9% 37.6% $41

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Newport News, VA

$369 14.6% 291% $275

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Newport News, VA

$372 14.8% 386% $296

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Newport News, VA

$74 2.9% 25.5% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Newport News, VA

$81 3.2% 58.5% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $1,390 in Newport News, VA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Newport News, VA are about 6.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $61 in Newport News, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $397 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇺🇸 Newport News, VA

🕒 Local time

07:26 7:26 AM

19:26 7:26 PM

12 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

186,247

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

1 USD = 0.897 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 8, 2026: 1 USD = 33.55 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.39 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 8, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.897 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Chiang Mai Newport News, VA 13,800 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Newport News, VA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Newport News, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News, VA costs about 169% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,781 in Newport News, VA. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,390 in Newport News, VA.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,912 in Newport News, VA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% more in Newport News, VA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $2,521 in Newport News, VA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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