Cost of Living Comparison Between Mount Laurel, NJ and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Mount Laurel, NJ and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,599 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,843 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,087 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mount Laurel, NJ costs about 205% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mount Laurel, NJ sits 95% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.77 $16.77

$2.04 ฿68.2

722.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.3 $90.3

$18.71 ฿624

382.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 $12.11

$7.86 ฿262

54.07%

Cappuccino

$4.96 $4.96

$2.03 ฿67.7

144.33%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$0.80 ฿26.64

241.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.35 ฿11.68

468.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.14 ฿71.5

43.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.67 ฿122

58.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.73 ฿57.6

-21.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.57 ฿52.4

71.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$1.20 ฿39.99

362.50%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$1.97 ฿65.8

102.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$16.23 ฿541

-19.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$3.06 ฿102

114.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.03 $13.03

$10.80 ฿360

20.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$2.77 ฿92.3

118.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.17 ฿38.94

40.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.71 ฿57.0

153.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$1.59 ฿53.2

170.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.39 ฿46.51

56.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.16 ฿38.56

152.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.95 $2.95

$0.66 ฿22.05

346.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.52 ฿17.31

388.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 $11.83

$4.65 ฿155

154.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$17.78 ฿593

-16.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.79 ฿59.6

12.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.34 ฿111

25.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.91 ฿30.27

120.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.41 ฿47.04

114.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.34 ฿44.70

17.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.92 $21.92

$8.11 ฿270

170.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.23 ฿41.16

-28.46%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$21.4K ฿715.1K

25.94%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$21.8K ฿728.0K

16.39%

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

$269 $269

$71.3 ฿2,379

276.50%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$14.01 ฿467

339.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 $55.9

$17.93 ฿598

211.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.50 $43.50

$40.82 ฿1,362

6.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$5.72 ฿191

167.31%

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

$2,114 $2,114

$308 ฿10.3K

585.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$14.7K ฿489.7K

61.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 $50.8

$55.8 ฿1,860

-8.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.18 $41.18

$26.04 ฿869

58.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 $93.7

$84.8 ฿2,829

10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$71.0 ฿2,368

100.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$423 ฿14.1K

281.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,371 $1,371

$242 ฿8,088

465.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,622 $2,622

$797 ฿26.6K

228.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,231 $2,231

$507 ฿16.9K

340.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,757 $2,757

$1,918 ฿64.0K

43.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,088 $2,088

$1,464 ฿48.8K

42.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

33.60%

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

Last update for Mount Laurel, NJ: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,613 in Mount Laurel, NJ versus $423 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Mount Laurel, NJ versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $244 – 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

Mount Laurel, NJ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Laurel, NJ costs about 205% 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 $3,899 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ and $1,279 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 $90.0 in Mount Laurel, 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 52% more in Mount Laurel, 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 $852, than in Mount Laurel, NJ at $2,599. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mount Laurel, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,599 in Mount Laurel, 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, Mount Laurel, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.