Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,742 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,816 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,889 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

New Bedford, MA costs about 194% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

New Bedford, MA sits 100% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.13 $20.13

$2.08 ฿69.4

867.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 $58.9

$19.61 ฿654

200.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.67 ฿189

6.53%

Cappuccino

$3.91 $3.91

$1.81 ฿60.2

116.02%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$0.77 ฿25.60

190.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.35 ฿11.50

262.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.21 ฿73.8

169.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.79 ฿126

2.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.05 ฿68.2

-41.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.67 $4.67

$1.51 ฿50.5

209.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.85 $12.85

$1.40 ฿46.61

817.86%

Eggs

$6.29 $6.29

$2.26 ฿75.2

178.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 $10.45

$16.19 ฿540

-35.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$2.90 ฿96.5

272.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.24 $20.24

$9.42 ฿314

114.86%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$2.68 ฿89.2

127.61%

Banana (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.09 ฿36.31

201.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.62 ฿53.9

102.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.46 ฿48.66

106.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.28 ฿42.57

70.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.06 ฿35.25

124.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 $2.65

$0.72 ฿23.90

268.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$0.53 ฿17.53

462.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.75 $12.75

$4.23 ฿141

201.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.70 $15.70

$18.29 ฿610

-14.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.63 ฿54.3

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.90 ฿96.7

-2.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,791

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 $6.16

$1.17 ฿39.07

426.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.58 ฿19.26

282.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.45 ฿48.32

-32.41%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$21.0K ฿700.1K

75.14%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.4K ฿880.5K

-2.62%

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

$178 $178

$63.7 ฿2,121

179.28%

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

$37.25 $37.25

$12.89 ฿430

188.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.1 $53.1

$20.52 ฿684

158.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.18 $29.18

$39.02 ฿1,300

-25.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$14.11 $14.11

$6.58 ฿219

114.44%

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

$2,161 $2,161

$784 ฿26.1K

175.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.74 $38.74

$55.1 ฿1,836

-29.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.26 $24.26

$24.74 ฿824

-1.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 $93.0

$94.1 ฿3,136

-1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,464

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,828 $1,828

$490 ฿16.3K

272.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$288 ฿9,602

452.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,629 $2,629

$891 ฿29.7K

194.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$521 ฿17.4K

352.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,888 $4,888

$602 ฿20.0K

712.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

5.57

-41.65%

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

Last update for New Bedford, MA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,828 in New Bedford, MA versus $490 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 713% higher in New Bedford, MA, 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 $59.0 in New Bedford, MA versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $463 vs $241 – 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

New Bedford, MA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Bedford, MA costs about 194% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,113 per month in New Bedford, MA and $1,398 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 $59.0 in New Bedford, MA 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 92% more in New Bedford, MA, 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 $932, than in New Bedford, MA at $2,742. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Bedford, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $2,742 in New Bedford, MA. 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, New Bedford, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.