Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lee, NJ and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lee, NJ and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,156 per month in Fort Lee, NJ vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,053 per month in Fort Lee, NJ vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,951 per month in Fort Lee, NJ vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Fort Lee, NJ costs about 272% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fort Lee, NJ sits 136% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$2.03 ฿68.5

873.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$18.71 ฿631

443.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 $12.54

$7.84 ฿265

59.95%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$1.93 ฿65.0

175.65%

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

$2.40 $2.40

$0.83 ฿28.05

189.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.35 ฿11.82

265.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 $6.97

$2.22 ฿74.9

213.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 $8.98

$3.79 ฿128

136.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.65 ฿55.5

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$1.55 ฿52.4

108.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$1.18 ฿39.86

276.27%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.01 ฿68.0

110.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.03 $21.03

$16.16 ฿545

30.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.88 $11.88

$3.03 ฿102

292.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.56 $17.56

$10.84 ฿366

61.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$2.68 ฿90.4

82.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.22 ฿41.21

23.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.63 ฿54.9

135.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$1.53 ฿51.6

166.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.34 ฿45.18

106.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$1.21 ฿40.93

223.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.70 ฿23.67

242.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$0.53 ฿17.73

384.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.05 $12.05

$4.69 ฿158

156.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$17.71 ฿598

-31.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.85 ฿62.3

-4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 $5.82

$3.21 ฿108

81.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.80 $3.80

$0.89 ฿30.07

326.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.41 ฿47.48

114.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.29 ฿43.59

55.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.47 $24.47

$7.79 ฿263

214.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.29 ฿43.67

-31.78%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$21.8K ฿734.7K

37.96%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$21.7K ฿732.1K

18.24%

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

$127 $127

$70.0 ฿2,362

81.02%

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

$45.43 $45.43

$14.19 ฿479

220.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 $64.5

$17.42 ฿588

270.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$126 $126

$41.64 ฿1,405

202.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿233

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$5.78 ฿195

155.02%

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

$2,014 $2,014

$300 ฿10.1K

571.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$14.5K ฿490.1K

61.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 $75.1

$55.4 ฿1,869

35.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.7 $59.7

$26.31 ฿888

127.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 $70.2

$84.8 ฿2,863

-17.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$70.5 ฿2,379

43.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 $2,203

$425 ฿14.4K

417.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 $1,842

$235 ฿7,933

683.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,685 $4,685

$802 ฿27.1K

484.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,869 $3,869

$516 ฿17.4K

650.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,241 $4,241

$1,926 ฿65.0K

120.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,753 $3,753

$1,451 ฿49.0K

158.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,521 $6,521

$586 ฿19.8K

1012.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

27.00%

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

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: July 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,203 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $425 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 1012% higher in Fort Lee, 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 $102 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $426 vs $242 – 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

Fort Lee, NJ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Lee, NJ costs about 272% 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 $4,733 per month in Fort Lee, NJ and $1,271 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 $102 in Fort Lee, NJ and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 76% more in Fort Lee, 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 $847, than in Fort Lee, NJ at $3,156. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Lee, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $3,156 in Fort Lee, 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, Fort Lee, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.