Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingsport, TN and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,973 in Kingsport, TN, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kingsport, TN, United States
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kingsport, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$1,973
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kingsport, TN and in Chiang Mai

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

A single person spends $1,973 per month in Kingsport, TN vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kingsport, TN $1,973
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $3,211 per month in Kingsport, TN vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kingsport, TN $3,211
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $4,448 per month in Kingsport, TN vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kingsport, TN $4,448
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Kingsport, TN costs about 111% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Kingsport, TN sits 45% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69 $17.69
$2.24 ฿75.7
689.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9 $55.9
$19.00 ฿642
194.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 $11.18
$5.55 ฿188
101.44%
Cappuccino
$5.03 $5.03
$1.67 ฿56.6
201.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.64 ฿21.56
253.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.31 ฿10.32
509.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.36 ฿79.6
85.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 $7.20
$3.66 ฿124
96.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.95 ฿65.8
-54.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.44 ฿48.51
84.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.33 ฿45.07
69.92%
Eggs
$3.41 $3.41
$2.28 ฿77.1
49.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$16.45 ฿556
-15.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 $8.54
$2.78 ฿94.0
207.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.03 $17.03
$9.31 ฿314
82.92%
Apples (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$2.35 ฿79.5
135.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 $1.20
$0.97 ฿32.82
23.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.60 ฿53.9
134.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$1.50 ฿50.7
212.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.28 ฿43.15
82.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$1.10 ฿37.22
180.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.71 ฿23.84
197.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$0.49 ฿16.38
328.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.10 $8.10
$4.14 ฿140
95.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.87 $9.87
$17.52 ฿592
-43.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.61 ฿54.5
8.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72 $4.72
$2.78 ฿94.0
69.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.87 ฿29.33
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.1 ฿1,827
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.16 ฿39.08
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.53 ฿17.82
15.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.42 ฿81.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.45 ฿48.93
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K $36.5K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
73.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
-4.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 $122
$62.2 ฿2,100
96.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.80 $49.80
$12.17 ฿411
309.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.1 $65.1
$20.12 ฿680
223.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.65 $41.65
$37.31 ฿1,260
11.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.30 $12.30
$6.49 ฿219
89.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 $568
$736 ฿24.9K
-22.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.12 $44.12
$53.4 ฿1,802
-17.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.51 $34.51
$24.64 ฿832
40.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 $91.1
$91.5 ฿3,089
-0.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$71.9 ฿2,429
53.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,093 $1,093
$482 ฿16.3K
126.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$902 $902
$309 ฿10.4K
191.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,427 $2,427
$1,006 ฿34.0K
141.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,064 $2,064
$633 ฿21.4K
225.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,887 $1,887
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-20.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,890 $1,890
$1,589 ฿53.7K
18.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingsport, TN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,740 $3,740
$590 ฿19.9K
534.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
5.57
21.90%

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

Last update for Kingsport, TN: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kingsport, TN
$902
Chiang Mai
$309 65.7% $593
Groceries & Markets
Kingsport, TN
$351
Chiang Mai
$234 33.3% $117
Eating Out
Kingsport, TN
$288
Chiang Mai
$78 73.1% $211
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingsport, TN
$237
Chiang Mai
$94 60.1% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Kingsport, TN
$126
Chiang Mai
$109 13.8% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Kingsport, TN
$66
Chiang Mai
$50 24.1% $16
Getting Around
Kingsport, TN
$3 *
Chiang Mai
$61 1925% $58

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,093 in Kingsport, TN versus $482 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 in Kingsport, TN are about 6.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56 in Kingsport, TN versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Kingsport, TN
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
12:04 12:04 PM
23:04 11:04 PM
11 h ahead of Kingsport, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
53,014
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kingsport, TN Chiang Mai 13,860 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kingsport, TN
  • Chiang Mai

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
Kingsport, TN vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kingsport, TN or Chiang Mai?
Kingsport, TN costs about 111% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kingsport, TN and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,960 per month in Kingsport, TN and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kingsport, TN or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,093 in Kingsport, TN.
How do dining costs compare in Kingsport, TN and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56 in Kingsport, TN and $19 in Chiang Mai. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kingsport, TN or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Kingsport, TN, 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 $800/month in Kingsport, TN or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,973 in Kingsport, TN and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kingsport, TN or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,973 in Kingsport, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Kingsport, TN 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 Kingsport, TN or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingsport, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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