Cost of Living Comparison Between North East, MD and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between North East, MD and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,702 per month in North East, MD vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,032 per month in North East, MD vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,361 per month in North East, MD vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

North East, MD costs about 185% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

North East, MD sits 97% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.85 $14.85

$2.08 ฿68.5

613.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$19.64 ฿646

285.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$5.65 ฿186

115.75%

Cappuccino

$5.90 $5.90

$1.81 ฿59.3

225.97%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$0.71 ฿23.44

226.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.32 ฿10.38

534.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.16 $7.16

$2.24 ฿73.5

219.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.63 ฿119

26.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.96 ฿64.4

-32.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.50 ฿49.38

171.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.20 $7.20

$1.34 ฿43.92

437.31%

Eggs

$5.85 $5.85

$2.26 ฿74.4

158.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$16.26 ฿534

6.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.77 $17.77

$2.95 ฿97.1

502.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 $19.01

$9.94 ฿327

91.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.84 $6.84

$2.57 ฿84.5

166.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.06 ฿34.72

126.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$1.61 ฿53.0

206.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$1.52 ฿49.96

300.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.27 ฿41.76

125.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.07 ฿35.05

253.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 $2.66

$0.72 ฿23.67

269.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$0.51 ฿16.72

423.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.85 $13.85

$4.19 ฿138

230.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.25 $16.25

$17.87 ฿587

-9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.20 $3.20

$1.69 ฿55.7

89.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 $5.82

$2.84 ฿93.2

104.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.93 ฿30.42

137.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 $3.97

$1.23 ฿40.58

222.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.58 ฿18.96

181.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.50 $25.50

$2.42 ฿79.7

953.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.41 ฿46.42

-26.95%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$21.4K ฿704.9K

66.29%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.3K ฿898.5K

-4.38%

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

$204 $204

$63.7 ฿2,093

219.62%

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

$80.3 $80.3

$12.85 ฿423

524.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.4 $76.4

$20.22 ฿665

277.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.47 $43.47

$38.74 ฿1,274

12.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$17.93 $17.93

$6.74 ฿221

166.02%

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

$1,416 $1,416

$778 ฿25.6K

81.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.2K $41.2K

$14.6K ฿480.2K

182.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.7 $74.7

$54.3 ฿1,785

37.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.69 $43.69

$25.45 ฿836

71.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$94.3 ฿3,101

7.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$73.4 ฿2,414

87.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,376 $1,376

$490 ฿16.1K

180.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,210 $1,210

$289 ฿9,510

318.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,192 $2,192

$894 ฿29.4K

145.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,082 $2,082

$517 ฿17.0K

302.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,901 $2,901

$1,955 ฿64.3K

48.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,728 $2,728

$1,477 ฿48.5K

84.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

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 North East, MD: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,376 in North East, MD 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in North East, MD versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $522 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

North East, MD vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North East, MD costs about 185% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,053 per month in North East, MD 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in North East, MD and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 117% more in North East, MD, 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 North East, MD at $2,702. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in North East, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $2,702 in North East, MD. 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, North East, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.