Cost of Living Comparison Between New Providence and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between New Providence and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,862 per month in New Providence vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,692 per month in New Providence vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,522 per month in New Providence vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

New Providence costs about 115% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

New Providence sits 39% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.74 BSD 29.74

$1.94 ฿63.5

1432.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 BSD 122

$18.64 ฿609

553.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.66 BSD 9.66

$7.82 ฿255

23.53%

Cappuccino

$6.30 BSD 6.30

$1.95 ฿63.8

223.08%

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

$4.71 BSD 4.71

$0.85 ฿27.77

454.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 BSD 3.54

$0.35 ฿11.58

911.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.31 BSD 9.31

$2.13 ฿69.6

337.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 BSD 4.46

$3.73 ฿122

19.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 BSD 2.95

$1.71 ฿56.0

72.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.71 BSD 4.71

$1.63 ฿53.2

188.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.22 BSD 6.22

$1.14 ฿37.15

445.61%

Eggs

$6.58 BSD 6.58

$1.93 ฿63.1

240.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.77 BSD 13.77

$16.21 ฿530

-15.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 BSD 8.03

$3.12 ฿102

157.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.14 BSD 13.14

$10.90 ฿356

20.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 BSD 2.91

$2.75 ฿90.0

5.82%

Banana (1kg)

$4.02 BSD 4.02

$1.21 ฿39.52

232.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 BSD 4.37

$1.62 ฿53.0

169.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 BSD 3.06

$1.59 ฿51.8

92.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 BSD 3.02

$1.40 ฿45.70

115.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 BSD 2.42

$1.17 ฿38.17

106.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 BSD 2.60

$0.66 ฿21.60

293.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 BSD 2.44

$0.53 ฿17.22

360.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.14 BSD 12.14

$4.69 ฿153

158.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.46 BSD 25.46

$18.66 ฿609

36.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.31 BSD 3.31

$1.80 ฿58.8

83.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 BSD 3.92

$3.23 ฿106

21.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 BSD 1.22

$0.90 ฿29.26

35.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.5 BSD 60.5

$7.84 ฿256

671.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$40.29 BSD 40.29

$14.08 ฿460

186.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$99.2 BSD 99.2

$18.00 ฿588

451.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.5 BSD 73.5

$41.06 ฿1,341

79.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 BSD 15.19

$5.92 ฿193

156.59%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 BSD 1,483

$428 ฿14.0K

246.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 BSD 689

$237 ฿7,752

190.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,498 BSD 4,498

$515 ฿16.8K

772.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for New Providence: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,483 in New Providence 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 $122 in New Providence versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $246 – 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 Providence vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Providence costs about 115% 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 $2,794 per month in New Providence and $1,300 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,862 in New Providence and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 82% more in New Providence, 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 $866, than in New Providence at $1,862. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Providence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,862 in New Providence. 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 Providence makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.