😐A single person spends $2,506 per month in Roxboro, NC vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,619 per month in Roxboro, NC vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,731 per month in Roxboro, NC vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Roxboro, NC costs about 189% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Roxboro, NC sits 87% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.80$17.80
$1.94฿63.8
817.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.85$49.85
$18.64฿611
167.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91$7.91
$7.82฿256
1.15%
Cappuccino
$4.84$4.84
$1.95฿64.1
148.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52$2.52
$0.85฿27.90
196.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87$1.87
$0.35฿11.64
434.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.07$6.07
$2.13฿69.9
184.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86$7.86
$3.73฿122
110.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.71฿56.2
-51.46%
White Bread(500g)
$3.75$3.75
$1.63฿53.4
130.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.26$4.26
$1.14฿37.32
273.68%
Eggs
$4.57$4.57
$1.93฿63.4
136.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.17$17.17
$16.21฿532
5.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.65$6.65
$3.12฿102
113.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.74$16.74
$10.90฿357
53.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22$2.22
$2.75฿90.4
-19.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$1.21฿39.70
37.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.38$6.38
$1.62฿53.2
293.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.03$4.03
$1.59฿52.1
153.46%
Potato(1kg)
$3.82$3.82
$1.40฿45.91
172.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.17฿38.34
134.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02$1.02
$0.66฿21.70
54.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$0.53฿17.30
250.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.90$7.90
$4.69฿154
68.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.21$15.21
$18.66฿612
-18.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$1.80฿59.0
14.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31$3.31
$3.23฿106
2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.90฿29.39
126.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08$3.08
$1.41฿46.13
118.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90$1.90
$1.29฿42.31
47.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.59$30.59
$7.84฿257
290.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.27฿41.77
-32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K$35.0K
$21.3K฿698.1K
64.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K$25.0K
$22.2K฿728.8K
12.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138$138
$69.1฿2,266
100.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.3$54.3
$14.08฿462
285.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.4$72.4
$18.00฿591
302.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.29$43.29
$41.06฿1,347
5.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿228
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.21$14.21
$5.92฿194
140.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,305$1,305
$299฿9,811
336.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.8K$24.8K
$15.0K฿490.6K
65.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.85$49.85
$54.7฿1,795
-8.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.10$36.10
$26.77฿878
34.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102$102
$85.0฿2,788
20.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152$152
$70.6฿2,316
115.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,574$1,574
$428฿14.0K
267.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,360$1,360
$237฿7,787
473.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,652$2,652
$801฿26.3K
230.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,199$2,199
$515฿16.9K
326.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,682$2,682
$1,975฿64.8K
35.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,337$2,337
$1,475฿48.4K
58.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roxboro, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roxboro, NC: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Roxboro, NC 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Roxboro, NC versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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
Roxboro, NC vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Roxboro, NC or Chiang Mai?
Roxboro, NC costs about 189% 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 Roxboro, NC vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,760 per month in Roxboro, NC 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, Roxboro, NC 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 dining costs compare in Roxboro, NC vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Roxboro, NC and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Roxboro, NC or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Roxboro, NC, 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 Roxboro, NC or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Roxboro, NC at $2,506. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roxboro, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Roxboro, NC or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,506 in Roxboro, NC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Roxboro, NC 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 Roxboro, NC or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roxboro, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Roxboro, NC vs other spots: cost of living compared