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 $2,145 per month in New Providence vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,335 per month in New Providence vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,526 per month in New Providence vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

New Providence costs about 126% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

New Providence sits 56% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$74.9 BSD 74.9

$2.08 ฿69.2

3502.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BSD 151

$19.64 ฿651

670.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

Cappuccino

$5.34 BSD 5.34

$1.81 ฿59.9

195.03%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 BSD 2.14

$1.96 ฿65.0

9.18%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 BSD 5.15

$1.50 ฿49.83

243.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.85 BSD 4.85

$1.34 ฿44.32

261.94%

Eggs

$10.05 BSD 10.05

$2.26 ฿75.1

344.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.16 BSD 20.16

$16.26 ฿539

23.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.89 BSD 9.89

$2.95 ฿98.0

235.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.23 BSD 20.23

$9.94 ฿330

103.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 BSD 4.28

$2.57 ฿85.3

66.54%

Banana (1kg)

$6.02 BSD 6.02

$1.06 ฿35.04

467.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.01 BSD 7.01

$1.61 ฿53.5

335.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 BSD 3.96

$1.52 ฿50.4

160.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 BSD 3.99

$1.27 ฿42.14

214.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 BSD 2.95

$1.07 ฿35.37

175.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.92 BSD 2.92

$0.72 ฿23.89

305.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 BSD 3.07

$0.51 ฿16.87

501.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.24 BSD 15.24

$4.19 ฿139

263.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.33 BSD 25.33

$17.87 ฿593

41.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 BSD 3.72

$1.69 ฿56.2

120.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 BSD 4.07

$2.84 ฿94.1

43.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

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

$40.73 BSD 40.73

$12.85 ฿426

216.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$99.3 BSD 99.3

$20.22 ฿671

391.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.3 BSD 76.3

$38.74 ฿1,285

96.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$15.17 BSD 15.17

$6.74 ฿223

125.07%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,487 BSD 1,487

$490 ฿16.2K

203.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$703 BSD 703

$289 ฿9,596

142.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,464 BSD 4,464

$517 ฿17.1K

763.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for New Providence: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,487 in New Providence 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $151 in New Providence versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $240 – 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 126% 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 $3,217 per month in New Providence and $1,421 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 $2,145 in New Providence and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 130% 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 $947, than in New Providence at $2,145. 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 $947 versus $2,145 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.