Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New Britain, CT and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,582 in New Britain, CT, rent and utilities included – about $19,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New Britain, CT, United States
Chiang Mai, Thailand
New Britain, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,582
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New Britain, CT 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 New Britain, CT and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,582 per month in New Britain, CT vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • New Britain, CT $2,582
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $3,955 per month in New Britain, CT vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • New Britain, CT $3,955
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $5,329 per month in New Britain, CT vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • New Britain, CT $5,329
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

New Britain, CT costs about 176% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

New Britain, CT sits 91% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.25 $16.25
$2.13 ฿71.7
662.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2 $91.2
$18.62 ฿625
389.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.72 $14.72
$5.60 ฿188
162.86%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$1.66 ฿55.9
235.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$0.65 ฿21.73
347.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.30 ฿10.24
826.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.32 ฿78.0
112.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 $7.82
$3.67 ฿123
113.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$2.02 ฿67.7
-47.03%
White Bread (500g)
$3.92 $3.92
$1.41 ฿47.29
178.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$1.39 ฿46.75
285.61%
Eggs
$4.70 $4.70
$2.37 ฿79.5
98.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 $11.10
$16.52 ฿555
-32.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.37 $14.37
$2.67 ฿89.7
438.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.59 $17.59
$9.02 ฿303
95.01%
Apples (1kg)
$6.87 $6.87
$2.40 ฿80.6
186.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.04 ฿34.98
64.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.59 $6.59
$1.66 ฿55.7
296.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.55 $5.55
$1.56 ฿52.4
255.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.24 ฿41.57
123.39%
Onion (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$1.09 ฿36.50
296.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$0.76 ฿25.59
201.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.51 ฿17.27
92.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.48 $13.48
$4.12 ฿138
227.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.06 $14.06
$17.93 ฿602
-21.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.62 ฿54.5
28.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 $3.99
$2.82 ฿94.8
41.49%
🚌 Getting Around
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.93 ฿31.39
105.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 $53.8
$52.9 ฿1,777
1.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 $3.96
$1.18 ฿39.52
235.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 $2.51
$0.17 ฿5.76
1376.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.83 $39.83
$1.81 ฿60.9
2100.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.47 ฿49.47
-25.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$21.0K ฿705.8K
32.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$26.5K ฿890.7K
1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$324 $324
$62.6 ฿2,101
417.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$104 $104
$11.60 ฿390
798.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8 $54.8
$20.30 ฿682
169.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.06 $40.06
$37.88 ฿1,272
5.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.70 ฿124
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.16 $14.16
$6.51 ฿219
117.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$984 $984
$727 ฿24.4K
35.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$44.9K $44.9K
$16.6K ฿556.7K
170.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0 $56.0
$53.5 ฿1,798
4.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.87 $37.87
$24.80 ฿833
52.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 $79.9
$90.4 ฿3,036
-11.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.6 $98.6
$72.0 ฿2,418
36.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 $1,112
$481 ฿16.2K
131.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 $1,095
$310 ฿10.4K
253.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,572 $2,572
$1,058 ฿35.5K
143.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 $2,107
$659 ฿22.1K
219.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,695 $2,695
$2,418 ฿81.2K
11.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,486 $2,486
$1,609 ฿54.0K
54.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Britain, CT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,915 $3,915
$595 ฿20.0K
558.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.57
-10.23%

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

Last update for New Britain, CT: November 3, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New Britain, CT
$1.1K
Chiang Mai
$310 71.7% $785
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Britain, CT
$483
Chiang Mai
$94 80.4% $388
Groceries & Markets
New Britain, CT
$431
Chiang Mai
$237 45.1% $195
Eating Out
New Britain, CT
$304
Chiang Mai
$77 74.8% $228
Clothing & Footwear
New Britain, CT
$123
Chiang Mai
$108 11.6% $14
Getting Around
New Britain, CT
$78
Chiang Mai
$59 24.7% $19
Sport & Entertainment
New Britain, CT
$68
Chiang Mai
$51 25.6% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,112 in New Britain, CT versus $481 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 New Britain, CT are about 6.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $91 in New Britain, CT versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $431 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New Britain, CT
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
04:45 4:45 AM
16:45 4:45 PM
12 h ahead of New Britain, CT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,206
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 November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.75 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New Britain, CT Chiang Mai 13,240 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New Britain, CT
  • 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
New Britain, CT vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New Britain, CT or Chiang Mai?
New Britain, CT costs about 176% 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 New Britain, CT and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,873 per month in New Britain, CT 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, New Britain, CT or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,112 in New Britain, CT.
How do dining costs compare in New Britain, CT and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $91 in New Britain, CT 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 New Britain, CT or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 82% more in New Britain, CT, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in New Britain, CT or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,582 in New Britain, CT and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to New Britain, CT or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Britain, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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