Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $2,738 in Newport News, VA, rent and utilities included – about $21,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

133

Cost of Living Index in Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Newport News, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,738

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Newport News, VA and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Newport News, VA and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,738 per month in Newport News, VA vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Newport News, VA $2,738
Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $3,798 per month in Newport News, VA vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Newport News, VA $3,798
Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $4,858 per month in Newport News, VA vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Newport News, VA $4,858
Chiang Mai $1,914

Newport News, VA costs about 192% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Newport News, VA sits 103% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.29 $28.29

$2.26 ฿75.4

1151.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 $60.8

$19.18 ฿641

216.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.44 $10.44

$5.59 ฿187

86.76%

Cappuccino

$6.17 $6.17

$1.72 ฿57.6

258.72%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$0.64 ฿21.54

307.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.33 ฿11.18

521.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$2.36 ฿78.7

233.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$3.90 ฿130

99.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$2.05 ฿68.6

-53.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$1.40 ฿46.70

152.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.28 ฿42.89

162.50%

Eggs

$2.86 $2.86

$2.25 ฿75.3

27.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 $7.51

$16.94 ฿566

-55.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 $11.13

$2.74 ฿91.6

306.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.66 $18.66

$9.36 ฿313

99.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.95 $6.95

$2.40 ฿80.3

189.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 ฿33.92

2.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$1.61 ฿53.9

206.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.52 ฿50.7

166.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.28 ฿42.90

107.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.11 ฿37.22

181.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.72 ฿24.09

180.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$0.52 ฿17.54

415.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.74 $7.74

$4.33 ฿145

78.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.06 $16.06

$17.73 ฿593

-9.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.63 ฿54.4

7.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.85 ฿95.3

96.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.91 $2.91

$0.85 ฿28.31

242.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.13 $40.13

$53.9 ฿1,801

-25.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 $3.90

$1.17 ฿39.18

233.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.57 ฿19.00

131.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.22 $25.22

$2.37 ฿79.2

964.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.45 ฿48.32

-32.41%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$20.5K ฿684.3K

80.68%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.5K ฿886.1K

-0.78%

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

$209 $209

$62.3 ฿2,083

235.65%

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

$79.9 $79.9

$12.27 ฿410

551.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.8 $78.8

$19.97 ฿668

294.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.56 $39.56

$37.91 ฿1,267

4.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$13.31 $13.31

$6.71 ฿224

98.36%

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

$3,164 $3,164

$797 ฿26.6K

296.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K $40.7K

$14.8K ฿495.7K

174.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$53.3 ฿1,780

1.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.64 $44.64

$25.05 ฿837

78.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$91.6 ฿3,062

12.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$73.5 ฿2,455

68.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 $1,407

$464 ฿15.5K

203.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 $1,299

$305 ฿10.2K

326.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 $2,324

$915 ฿30.6K

153.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 $1,792

$552 ฿18.5K

224.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,912 ฿63.9K

17.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,236 $2,236

$1,438 ฿48.1K

55.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,938 $3,938

$595 ฿19.9K

561.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.57

17.41%

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

Last update for Newport News, VA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Newport News, VA

$1.3K 47.5%

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5% 76.5% $994

Eating Out

Newport News, VA

$405 14.8%

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4% 80.5% $326

Groceries & Markets

Newport News, VA

$391 14.3%

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4% 39.2% $153

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Newport News, VA

$368 13.4%

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1% 74.3% $273

Clothing & Footwear

Newport News, VA

$146 5.3%

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7% 25.2% $37

Sport & Entertainment

Newport News, VA

$66 2.4%

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5% 22.4% $15

Getting Around

Newport News, VA

$62 2.3%

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5% 1.6% $1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,407 in Newport News, VA versus $464 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 562% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Newport News, VA

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

10:03 10:03 AM

21:03 9:03 PM

11 h ahead of Newport News, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

186,247

127,240

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

THB to USD in detail →

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Newport News, VA Chiang Mai 13,800 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight

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Newport News, VA
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 192% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $4,108 per month in Newport News, VA and $1,408 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 $3,164 per month in Newport News, VA and $797 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 $938, than in Newport News, VA at $2,738. 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 $938 versus $2,738 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.