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 $1,799 per month in New Providence vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,611 per month in New Providence vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,423 per month in New Providence vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

New Providence costs about 109% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

New Providence sits 35% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.59 BSD 29.59

$1.96 ฿65.7

1409.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 BSD 121

$18.35 ฿616

558.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.63 BSD 9.63

$7.48 ฿251

28.74%

Cappuccino

$6.33 BSD 6.33

$2.02 ฿67.7

213.37%

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

$4.65 BSD 4.65

$0.85 ฿28.45

447.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 BSD 3.47

$0.36 ฿11.94

863.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.04 BSD 9.04

$2.14 ฿71.7

322.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 BSD 4.56

$3.59 ฿121

27.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.01 BSD 3.01

$1.65 ฿55.4

82.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.83 BSD 4.83

$1.57 ฿52.6

207.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.45 BSD 6.45

$1.19 ฿39.95

442.02%

Eggs

$6.64 BSD 6.64

$1.94 ฿65.0

242.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.69 BSD 13.69

$16.19 ฿544

-15.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 BSD 8.47

$2.99 ฿100

183.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BSD 13.24

$10.94 ฿367

21.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 BSD 2.89

$2.71 ฿91.0

6.64%

Banana (1kg)

$4.14 BSD 4.14

$1.17 ฿39.18

253.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 BSD 4.46

$1.69 ฿56.6

163.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 BSD 3.12

$1.60 ฿53.9

95.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 BSD 3.17

$1.38 ฿46.45

129.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 BSD 2.43

$1.20 ฿40.38

102.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 BSD 2.62

$0.67 ฿22.46

291.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 BSD 2.43

$0.56 ฿18.70

333.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.13 BSD 12.13

$4.64 ฿156

161.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.63 BSD 24.63

$17.62 ฿591

39.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.40 BSD 3.40

$1.86 ฿62.4

82.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 BSD 3.94

$3.30 ฿111

19.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 BSD 1.29

$0.88 ฿29.63

46.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.5 BSD 59.5

$8.21 ฿276

624.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

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

$40.55 BSD 40.55

$14.04 ฿471

188.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100.0 BSD 100.0

$17.49 ฿587

471.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.7 BSD 74.7

$42.15 ฿1,415

77.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 BSD 15.28

$5.92 ฿199

158.11%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,482 BSD 1,482

$432 ฿14.5K

242.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 BSD 694

$239 ฿8,020

190.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,587 BSD 4,587

$512 ฿17.2K

795.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,482 in New Providence versus $432 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 $121 in New Providence versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $455 vs $243 – 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 109% 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 $2,698 per month in New Providence and $1,292 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 $1,799 in New Providence and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 87% 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 $861, than in New Providence at $1,799. 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 $861 versus $1,799 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.