😐A single person spends $1,819 per month in Cromwell vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,839 per month in Cromwell vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,859 per month in Cromwell vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Cromwell costs about 111% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Cromwell sits 36% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87NZ$20.32
$1.96฿65.9
505.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.1NZ$123
$18.35฿617
292.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.98NZ$18.81
$7.48฿252
46.79%
Cappuccino
$3.44NZ$5.89
$2.02฿67.8
70.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31NZ$3.95
$0.85฿28.52
171.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07NZ$3.55
$0.36฿11.97
475.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.40NZ$12.68
$2.14฿71.9
245.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06NZ$10.37
$3.59฿121
68.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16NZ$3.70
$1.65฿55.5
30.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97NZ$3.38
$1.57฿52.7
25.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88NZ$3.21
$1.19฿40.05
57.98%
Eggs
$5.61NZ$9.61
$1.94฿65.1
189.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.37NZ$14.33
$16.19฿545
-48.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.52NZ$18.01
$2.99฿101
251.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.17NZ$22.55
$10.94฿368
20.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94NZ$5.03
$2.71฿91.2
8.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33NZ$4.00
$1.17฿39.27
99.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.46NZ$5.92
$1.69฿56.8
104.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.48NZ$7.66
$1.60฿54.0
180.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97NZ$3.38
$1.38฿46.56
42.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98NZ$3.39
$1.20฿40.47
65.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.48NZ$4.25
$0.67฿22.51
270.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11NZ$1.91
$0.56฿18.74
98.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.49NZ$41.94
$4.64฿156
427.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.04NZ$15.47
$17.62฿593
-48.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52NZ$4.32
$1.86฿62.6
35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NZ$6.20
$3.30฿111
9.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.13NZ$3.65
$0.88฿29.70
142.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.8NZ$108
$19.34฿651
224.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.78NZ$4.76
$1.36฿45.92
104.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10NZ$1.88
$1.34฿45.00
-17.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.56NZ$52.3
$8.21฿276
272.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64NZ$2.81
$1.22฿41.20
34.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KNZ$33.8K
$21.4K฿718.5K
-7.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KNZ$44.1K
$22.5K฿758.1K
14.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100NZ$171
$70.7฿2,378
41.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.31NZ$62.2
$14.04฿472
158.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0NZ$95.8
$17.49฿589
219.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.90NZ$63.2
$42.15฿1,418
-12.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.02NZ$20.58
$6.88฿231
74.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10NZ$15.58
$5.92฿199
53.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$596NZ$1,021
$309฿10.4K
93.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KNZ$22.9K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-10.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2NZ$112
$55.8฿1,876
16.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.22NZ$60.3
$26.11฿879
34.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7NZ$166
$83.0฿2,793
16.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124NZ$212
$70.5฿2,371
75.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$965NZ$1,653
$432฿14.5K
123.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$785NZ$1,344
$239฿8,040
228.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,565NZ$2,680
$822฿27.7K
90.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,378NZ$2,360
$512฿17.2K
169.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,752NZ$8,136
$1,915฿64.4K
148.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,426NZ$5,866
$1,467฿49.4K
133.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cromwell
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,070NZ$5,256
$579฿19.5K
429.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
5
32.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cromwell: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $965 in Cromwell versus $432 in Chiang Mai. 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 430% higher in Cromwell, 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 $72.0 in Cromwell versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $243 – 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
Cromwell vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cromwell or Chiang Mai?
Cromwell costs about 111% 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 Cromwell and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,729 per month in Cromwell and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cromwell or Chiang Mai?
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 childcare costs compare in Cromwell and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $596 per month in Cromwell and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cromwell or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Cromwell, 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 Cromwell or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Cromwell at $1,819. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cromwell it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cromwell or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,819 in Cromwell. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cromwell compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Cromwell or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cromwell makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.