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 $2,607 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,868 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,129 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mount Laurel, NJ costs about 207% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mount Laurel, NJ sits 96% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.83 $16.83

$1.96 ฿63.6

758.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.7 $89.7

$18.39 ฿598

387.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 $12.11

$7.87 ฿256

53.88%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$1.95 ฿63.4

154.87%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$0.85 ฿27.57

211.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.32 ฿10.52

509.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.14 ฿69.6

36.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.68 ฿120

58.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.66 ฿53.9

-17.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.56 ฿50.7

71.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$1.19 ฿38.63

352.94%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$1.99 ฿64.7

100.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$16.24 ฿528

-18.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 $6.68

$3.17 ฿103

110.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$10.84 ฿352

21.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.65 ฿86.2

125.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.22 ฿39.67

34.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$1.65 ฿53.7

172.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.55 ฿50.3

178.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.33 ฿43.17

69.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.21 ฿39.43

140.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$0.68 ฿22.04

352.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.57 ฿18.38

333.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.96 $11.96

$4.68 ฿152

155.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

$16.99 ฿552

-13.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.82 ฿59.3

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.18 ฿103

27.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.91 ฿29.46

115.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.41 ฿45.80

116.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.34 ฿43.52

12.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.39 $22.39

$8.14 ฿265

175.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.28 ฿41.53

-26.56%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$21.8K ฿709.3K

22.05%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.4K ฿728.0K

16.22%

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

$266 $266

$70.5 ฿2,291

277.43%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$14.05 ฿457

350.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.3 $54.3

$17.65 ฿574

207.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.78 $43.78

$41.29 ฿1,342

6.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$5.96 ฿194

150.84%

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

$2,080 $2,080

$303 ฿9,846

586.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$15.0K ฿486.2K

55.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.92 $49.92

$54.7 ฿1,778

-8.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.60 $41.60

$26.29 ฿854

58.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 $92.7

$85.8 ฿2,788

8.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$69.7 ฿2,265

102.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$428 ฿13.9K

275.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 $1,330

$239 ฿7,769

456.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,628 $2,628

$811 ฿26.4K

224.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 $2,221

$510 ฿16.6K

335.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,546 $2,546

$2,025 ฿65.8K

25.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,234 $2,234

$1,502 ฿48.8K

48.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,609 in Mount Laurel, NJ versus $428 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 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

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

Mount Laurel, NJ costs about 207% 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 $3,910 per month in Mount Laurel, NJ and $1,272 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% 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 $848, than in Mount Laurel, NJ at $2,607. 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 $848 versus $2,607 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.