Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Perth Amboy, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Perth Amboy, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,634 in Perth Amboy, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,858 in Perth Amboy, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,081 in Perth Amboy, NJ, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 68% cheaper than Perth Amboy, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Perth Amboy, NJ is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 āļŋ62.8
$20.03 $20.03
-90.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43 āļŋ594
$80.8 $80.8
-77.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 āļŋ241
$14.83 $14.83
-49.43%
Cappuccino
$1.93 āļŋ62.3
$5.23 $5.23
-63.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 āļŋ25.08
$2.57 $2.57
-69.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 āļŋ10.42
$2.04 $2.04
-84.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 āļŋ69.2
$7.83 $7.83
-72.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 āļŋ120
$8.10 $8.10
-54.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 āļŋ55.2
$1.14 $1.14
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 āļŋ50.3
$2.17 $2.17
-28.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 āļŋ38.06
$9.44 $9.44
-87.50%
Eggs
$1.98 āļŋ63.9
$3.07 $3.07
-35.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.04 āļŋ517
$12.33 $12.33
30.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 āļŋ102
$11.29 $11.29
-71.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 āļŋ353
$22.63 $22.63
-51.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 āļŋ84.7
$7.55 $7.55
-65.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 āļŋ37.61
$2.60 $2.60
-55.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 āļŋ53.0
$5.38 $5.38
-69.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 āļŋ49.51
$6.03 $6.03
-74.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 āļŋ44.34
$1.46 $1.46
-5.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 āļŋ37.54
$1.39 $1.39
-15.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 āļŋ21.25
$1.46 $1.46
-54.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 āļŋ16.55
$3.08 $3.08
-83.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 āļŋ146
$10.80 $10.80
-58.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 āļŋ590
$12.17 $12.17
50.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 āļŋ57.9
$1.76 $1.76
2.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 āļŋ102
$6.49 $6.49
-51.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 āļŋ28.97
$2.04 $2.04
-55.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 āļŋ612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 āļŋ45.50
$5.82 $5.82
-75.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 āļŋ42.15
$1.64 $1.64
-20.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 āļŋ261
$41.79 $41.79
-80.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 āļŋ41.08
$0.85 $0.85
50.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K āļŋ686.1K
$30.1K $30.1K
-29.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K āļŋ699.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-17.06%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 āļŋ2,230
$180 $180
-61.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 āļŋ450
$24.28 $24.28
-42.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95 āļŋ578
$56.5 $56.5
-68.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 āļŋ1,363
$43.31 $43.31
-2.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 āļŋ214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 āļŋ191
$15.08 $15.08
-60.74%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 āļŋ9,640
$1,882 $1,882
-84.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K āļŋ478.4K
$40.3K $40.3K
-63.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 āļŋ1,810
$32.45 $32.45
73.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 āļŋ868
$56.1 $56.1
-51.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 āļŋ2,735
$75.7 $75.7
12.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 āļŋ2,314
$97.6 $97.6
-26.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 āļŋ14.0K
$1,597 $1,597
-72.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 āļŋ7,727
$1,378 $1,378
-82.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 āļŋ25.7K
$2,668 $2,668
-70.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 āļŋ16.1K
$2,249 $2,249
-77.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 āļŋ64.3K
$2,677 $2,677
-25.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 āļŋ49.4K
$2,359 $2,359
-35.06%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 āļŋ20.2K
$3,371 $3,371
-81.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.55
-23.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Perth Amboy, NJ: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $1,597 in Perth Amboy, NJ. 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 437% higher in Perth Amboy, NJ, 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $81 in Perth Amboy, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $446 – 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 Perth Amboy, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Perth Amboy, NJ?
Perth Amboy, NJ costs about 212% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Perth Amboy, NJ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,952 in Perth Amboy, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Perth Amboy, NJ?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Perth Amboy, NJ?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $81.0 in Perth Amboy, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Perth Amboy, NJ?
Groceries cost about 83% more in Perth Amboy, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Perth Amboy, NJ?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Perth Amboy, NJ at $2,634. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth Amboy, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Perth Amboy, NJ?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $2,634 in Perth Amboy, NJ. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Perth Amboy, NJ?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Perth Amboy, NJ?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Perth Amboy, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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