Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,062 per month in Newark, NJ vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,554 per month in Newark, NJ vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,046 per month in Newark, NJ vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Newark, NJ costs about 228% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Newark, NJ sits 124% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$2.08 ฿69.4

880.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$19.61 ฿654

406.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.23 $14.23

$5.67 ฿189

150.97%

Cappuccino

$6.33 $6.33

$1.81 ฿60.2

249.72%

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

$3.88 $3.88

$0.77 ฿25.60

403.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.35 ฿11.50

620.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$2.21 ฿73.8

252.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$3.79 ฿126

159.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.05 ฿68.2

-34.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.56 $4.56

$1.51 ฿50.5

201.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$1.40 ฿46.61

408.57%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$2.26 ฿75.2

159.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

$16.19 ฿540

-55.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.22 $15.22

$2.90 ฿96.5

424.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.66 $19.66

$9.42 ฿314

108.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.68 ฿89.2

124.25%

Banana (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.09 ฿36.31

194.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$1.62 ฿53.9

251.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$1.46 ฿48.66

339.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.28 ฿42.57

167.97%

Onion (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.06 ฿35.25

294.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.72 ฿23.90

273.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.53 ฿17.53

366.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.13 $12.13

$4.23 ฿141

186.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.40 $20.40

$18.29 ฿610

11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.63 ฿54.3

14.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.90 ฿96.7

-1.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.97 $5.97

$0.88 ฿29.26

578.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.6 $54.6

$53.8 ฿1,791

1.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.17 ฿39.07

160.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$0.58 ฿19.26

267.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.43 $42.43

$2.39 ฿79.5

1675.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.45 ฿48.32

-32.41%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$21.0K ฿700.1K

68.41%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.4K ฿880.5K

-2.65%

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

$218 $218

$63.7 ฿2,121

242.61%

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

$72.5 $72.5

$12.89 ฿430

462.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$20.52 ฿684

252.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 $29.43

$39.02 ฿1,300

-24.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 $17.20

$3.92 ฿130

338.78%

Cinema Ticket

$14.63 $14.63

$6.58 ฿219

122.34%

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

$2,165 $2,165

$784 ฿26.1K

176.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.5K $61.5K

$14.7K ฿488.9K

319.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 $60.6

$55.1 ฿1,836

9.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.37 $28.37

$24.74 ฿824

14.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$94.1 ฿3,136

24.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$74.0 ฿2,464

71.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$490 ฿16.3K

371.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 $1,561

$288 ฿9,602

441.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,355 $4,355

$891 ฿29.7K

388.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,623 $2,623

$521 ฿17.4K

403.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,719 $5,719

$1,974 ฿65.8K

189.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,703 $5,703

$1,444 ฿48.1K

294.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,488 $3,488

$602 ฿20.0K

479.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

5.57

14.90%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,311 in Newark, NJ 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 480% higher in Newark, NJ, 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 $99.0 in Newark, NJ versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 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

Newark, NJ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newark, NJ costs about 228% 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 $4,592 per month in Newark, NJ 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.

Kindergarten costs $2,165 per month in Newark, NJ and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 102% more in Newark, NJ, 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 Newark, NJ at $3,062. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Newark, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $3,062 in Newark, NJ. 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, Newark, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.