Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockton-on-Tees and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockton-on-Tees and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,806 per month in Stockton-on-Tees vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,690 per month in Stockton-on-Tees vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,575 per month in Stockton-on-Tees vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Stockton-on-Tees costs about 108% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.66 £15.39
$1.94 ฿63.5
964.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 £59.9
$18.64 ฿609
331.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 £6.88
$7.82 ฿255
18.16%
Cappuccino
$4.66 £3.47
$1.95 ฿63.8
138.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 £1.56
$0.85 ฿27.77
147.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 £1.17
$0.35 ฿11.58
348.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.97 £5.19
$2.13 ฿69.6
227.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29 £3.94
$3.73 ฿122
41.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 £1.15
$1.71 ฿56.0
-9.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 £1.22
$1.63 ฿53.2
0.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.91 £2.91
$1.14 ฿37.15
242.98%
Eggs
$4.09 £3.05
$1.93 ฿63.1
111.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 £7.94
$16.21 ฿530
-34.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 £6.28
$3.12 ฿102
170.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.68 £13.17
$10.90 ฿356
62.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.49 £2.60
$2.75 ฿90.0
26.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 £1.45
$1.21 ฿39.52
60.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 £2.36
$1.62 ฿53.0
95.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.86 £2.88
$1.59 ฿51.8
142.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 £1.36
$1.40 ฿45.70
30.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 £1.48
$1.17 ฿38.17
70.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 £1.06
$0.66 ฿21.60
116.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 £1.30
$0.53 ฿17.22
228.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.46 £13.75
$4.69 ฿153
293.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.26 £6.90
$18.66 ฿609
-50.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 £2.11
$1.80 ฿58.8
57.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 £1.46
$3.23 ฿106
-39.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.31 £2.46
$0.90 ฿29.26
267.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.1 £64.9
$19.21 ฿628
353.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.33 £4.71
$1.41 ฿45.91
348.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 £0.77
$1.29 ฿42.12
-20.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.35 £12.18
$7.84 ฿256
108.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 £1.46
$1.27 ฿41.58
53.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K £23.8K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
49.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K £25.0K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
50.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$297 £222
$69.1 ฿2,256
330.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.11 £12.75
$14.08 ฿460
21.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.84 £30.42
$18.00 ฿588
126.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.0 £44.68
$41.06 ฿1,341
46.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.16 £9.80
$5.92 ฿193
122.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,551 £1,156
$299 ฿9,766
418.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,888 £5,131
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-53.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.0 £60.3
$54.7 ฿1,787
48.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.18 £32.92
$26.77 ฿874
65.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.6 £63.0
$85.0 ฿2,776
-0.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 £54.5
$70.6 ฿2,306
3.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$617 £460
$428 ฿14.0K
44.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 £380
$237 ฿7,752
114.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 £613
$801 ฿26.2K
2.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$706 £526
$515 ฿16.8K
36.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockton-on-Tees
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,736 £2,039
$617 ฿20.2K
343.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.6
5
12.00%

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

Last update for Stockton-on-Tees: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $617 in Stockton-on-Tees 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 343% higher in Stockton-on-Tees, 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 $80.0 in Stockton-on-Tees versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 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
Stockton-on-Tees vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stockton-on-Tees or Chiang Mai?
Stockton-on-Tees costs about 108% 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 Stockton-on-Tees vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,709 per month in Stockton-on-Tees 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, Stockton-on-Tees 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 Stockton-on-Tees and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,551 per month in Stockton-on-Tees 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 Stockton-on-Tees or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Stockton-on-Tees, 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 Stockton-on-Tees or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Stockton-on-Tees at $1,806. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockton-on-Tees it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stockton-on-Tees or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,806 in Stockton-on-Tees. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Stockton-on-Tees 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 Stockton-on-Tees or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stockton-on-Tees makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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