Cost of Living Comparison Between East Rutherford, NJ and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between East Rutherford, NJ and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,300 per month in East Rutherford, NJ vs $912 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,881 per month in East Rutherford, NJ vs $1,390 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,462 per month in East Rutherford, NJ vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

East Rutherford, NJ costs about 152% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

East Rutherford, NJ sits 69% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.24 $22.24

$2.06 ฿68.2

979.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$19.99 ฿662

393.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 $11.11

$5.73 ฿190

93.89%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$1.71 ฿56.4

214.04%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$0.73 ฿24.28

206.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.30 ฿10.07

573.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.44 ฿80.7

145.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.09 $7.09

$3.85 ฿127

84.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.94 ฿64.3

-34.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.61 ฿53.2

138.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$1.33 ฿44.10

475.94%

Eggs

$5.39 $5.39

$2.21 ฿73.2

143.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$15.29 ฿506

-18.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$2.80 ฿92.7

318.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.67 $16.67

$10.77 ฿357

54.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$2.47 ฿81.6

113.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.09 ฿36.11

48.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$1.56 ฿51.5

220.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$1.51 ฿49.86

223.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.26 ฿41.85

119.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.06 ฿35.15

197.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$0.71 ฿23.55

236.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.53 ฿17.45

360.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.91 $12.91

$4.21 ฿139

206.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.31 $24.31

$16.47 ฿545

47.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.72 ฿56.8

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.85 ฿94.2

55.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.93 ฿30.78

137.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.6 ฿1,773

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.19 ฿39.44

130.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.55 ฿18.08

189.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.80 $23.80

$2.47 ฿81.7

863.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.49 ฿49.24

-30.87%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$21.1K ฿698.1K

73.33%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$27.4K ฿905.4K

-8.64%

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

$213 $213

$64.5 ฿2,133

230.26%

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

$65.0 $65.0

$13.08 ฿433

397.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$19.72 ฿653

250.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 $35.99

$38.94 ฿1,289

-7.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.96 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 $15.27

$6.81 ฿225

124.23%

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

$2,208 $2,208

$795 ฿26.3K

177.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$14.8K ฿489.0K

60.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.83 $40.83

$56.2 ฿1,860

-27.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.37 $47.37

$25.71 ฿851

84.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.2 $78.2

$91.6 ฿3,030

-14.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$73.0 ฿2,416

118.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,116 $1,116

$484 ฿16.0K

130.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$961 $961

$281 ฿9,291

242.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,846 $2,846

$899 ฿29.7K

216.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 $2,319

$515 ฿17.0K

350.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,503 $2,503

$2,009 ฿66.5K

24.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,458 ฿48.3K

73.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,120 $5,120

$594 ฿19.7K

762.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

5.57

12.03%

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

Last update for East Rutherford, NJ: August 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 10, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,116 in East Rutherford, NJ versus $484 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 762% higher in East Rutherford, 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 $99.0 in East Rutherford, NJ versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $237 – 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

East Rutherford, NJ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

East Rutherford, NJ costs about 152% 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 $3,450 per month in East Rutherford, NJ and $1,368 in Chiang Mai. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in East Rutherford, NJ and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 90% more in East Rutherford, NJ, 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 $912, than in East Rutherford, NJ at $2,300. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in East Rutherford, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $912 versus $2,300 in East Rutherford, NJ. 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, East Rutherford, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.