Cost of Living Comparison Between Newcastle-under-Lyme and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Newcastle-under-Lyme and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,176 per month in Newcastle-under-Lyme vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,158 per month in Newcastle-under-Lyme vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,140 per month in Newcastle-under-Lyme vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Newcastle-under-Lyme costs about 151% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Newcastle-under-Lyme sits 62% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.33 £12.91
$1.94 ฿63.5
793.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.5 £57.7
$18.64 ฿609
315.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 £8.26
$7.82 ฿255
41.69%
Cappuccino
$4.47 £3.33
$1.95 ฿63.8
129.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 £1.82
$0.85 ฿27.77
187.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 £1.37
$0.35 ฿11.58
425.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.34 £3.98
$2.13 ฿69.6
150.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 £4.13
$3.73 ฿122
48.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 £1.08
$1.71 ฿56.0
-14.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 £1.12
$1.63 ฿53.2
-7.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 £1.69
$1.14 ฿37.15
99.12%
Eggs
$2.20 £1.64
$1.93 ฿63.1
13.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.50 £5.59
$16.21 ฿530
-53.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.19 £6.10
$3.12 ฿102
162.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.58 £8.63
$10.90 ฿356
6.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 £2.43
$2.75 ฿90.0
18.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 £1.11
$1.21 ฿39.52
23.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 £2.02
$1.62 ฿53.0
67.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 £2.22
$1.59 ฿51.8
87.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 £1.38
$1.40 ฿45.70
32.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 £0.97
$1.17 ฿38.17
11.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 £0.76
$0.66 ฿21.60
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 £1.00
$0.53 ฿17.22
152.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.11 £14.98
$4.69 ฿153
328.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.30 £6.93
$18.66 ฿609
-50.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 £2.09
$1.80 ฿58.8
56.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 £2.53
$3.23 ฿106
4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.37 £2.51
$0.90 ฿29.26
274.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.4 £65.9
$19.21 ฿628
360.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 £2.76
$1.41 ฿45.91
163.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 £0.98
$1.29 ฿42.12
2.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.59 £15.34
$7.84 ฿256
162.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 £1.43
$1.27 ฿41.58
51.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K £29.1K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
83.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K £28.9K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
74.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$313 £233
$69.1 ฿2,256
353.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.98 £14.14
$14.08 ฿460
34.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.97 £23.07
$18.00 ฿588
72.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.04 £34.30
$41.06 ฿1,341
12.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.58 £8.62
$5.92 ฿193
95.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,272 £948
$299 ฿9,766
325.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,829 £5,087
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-54.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 £38.15
$54.7 ฿1,787
-6.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.31 £22.58
$26.77 ฿874
13.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 £62.9
$85.0 ฿2,776
-0.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.29 £22.56
$70.6 ฿2,306
-57.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,200 £894
$428 ฿14.0K
180.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$984 £733
$237 ฿7,752
314.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,047 £1,525
$801 ฿26.2K
155.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 £1,252
$515 ฿16.8K
226.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,519 £4,111
$1,975 ฿64.5K
179.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,237 £2,412
$617 ฿20.2K
424.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.3
5
6.00%

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

Last update for Newcastle-under-Lyme: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,200 in Newcastle-under-Lyme 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.

Salaries run about 424% higher in Newcastle-under-Lyme, 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 $77.0 in Newcastle-under-Lyme versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 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
Newcastle-under-Lyme vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Newcastle-under-Lyme or Chiang Mai?
Newcastle-under-Lyme costs about 151% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Newcastle-under-Lyme vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,263 per month in Newcastle-under-Lyme and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Newcastle-under-Lyme or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,272 per month in Newcastle-under-Lyme and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Newcastle-under-Lyme or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Newcastle-under-Lyme, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Newcastle-under-Lyme or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Newcastle-under-Lyme at $2,176. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Newcastle-under-Lyme it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Newcastle-under-Lyme or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,176 in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Newcastle-under-Lyme compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Newcastle-under-Lyme or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newcastle-under-Lyme makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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