Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,721 per month in Newport News, VA vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,833 per month in Newport News, VA vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,945 per month in Newport News, VA vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Newport News, VA costs about 187% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Newport News, VA sits 98% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.40 $28.40

$2.08 ฿69.2

1265.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 $60.5

$19.64 ฿651

208.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.49 $10.49

$5.65 ฿188

85.66%

Cappuccino

$6.18 $6.18

$1.81 ฿59.9

241.44%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$0.71 ฿23.66

273.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.32 ฿10.48

512.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 $8.04

$2.24 ฿74.2

258.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.97 $7.97

$3.63 ฿121

119.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.96 ฿65.0

-51.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.50 ฿49.83

147.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.34 ฿44.32

155.22%

Eggs

$2.98 $2.98

$2.26 ฿75.1

31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$16.26 ฿539

-53.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.07 $11.07

$2.95 ฿98.0

275.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.06 $19.06

$9.94 ฿330

91.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.85 $6.85

$2.57 ฿85.3

166.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.06 ฿35.04

-3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$1.61 ฿53.5

202.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.52 ฿50.4

167.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.27 ฿42.14

111.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.07 ฿35.37

207.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.72 ฿23.89

190.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.51 ฿16.87

429.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.06 $8.06

$4.19 ฿139

92.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.78 $15.78

$17.87 ฿593

-11.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 ฿56.2

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.56 $5.56

$2.84 ฿94.1

95.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$0.93 ฿30.70

216.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

$53.9 ฿1,787

-24.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.23 ฿40.95

223.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.58 ฿19.13

118.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.55 $24.55

$2.42 ฿80.4

914.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.41 ฿46.84

-33.33%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$21.4K ฿711.3K

68.66%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.3K ฿906.7K

-4.20%

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

$202 $202

$63.7 ฿2,112

218.00%

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

$80.4 $80.4

$12.85 ฿426

525.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.1 $77.1

$20.22 ฿671

281.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 $40.42

$38.74 ฿1,285

4.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 $13.51

$6.74 ฿223

100.45%

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

$3,255 $3,255

$778 ฿25.8K

318.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.2K $41.2K

$14.6K ฿484.6K

181.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$54.3 ฿1,801

-0.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.58 $44.58

$25.45 ฿844

75.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$94.3 ฿3,129

7.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$73.4 ฿2,436

85.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 $1,427

$490 ฿16.2K

191.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,283 $1,283

$289 ฿9,596

343.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,334 $2,334

$894 ฿29.6K

161.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,821 $1,821

$517 ฿17.1K

252.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 $2,271

$1,955 ฿64.9K

16.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,308 $2,308

$1,477 ฿49.0K

56.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,905 $3,905

$602 ฿20.0K

548.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

5.57

11.85%

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

Last update for Newport News, VA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,427 in Newport News, VA 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 549% higher in Newport News, VA, 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 $61.0 in Newport News, VA versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 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

Newport News, VA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News, VA costs about 187% 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 $4,082 per month in Newport News, VA 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.

Kindergarten costs $3,255 per month in Newport News, VA and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% more in Newport News, VA, 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 Newport News, VA at $2,721. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Newport News, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $2,721 in Newport News, VA. 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, Newport News, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.