Cost of Living Comparison Between Summit, NJ and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Summit, NJ and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,887 per month in Summit, NJ vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,087 per month in Summit, NJ vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,286 per month in Summit, NJ vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Summit, NJ costs about 322% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Summit, NJ sits 184% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.76 $24.76

$2.11 ฿69.1

1073.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$19.75 ฿648

408.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 $10.85

$5.85 ฿192

85.47%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$1.76 ฿57.8

216.48%

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

$2.14 $2.14

$0.74 ฿24.37

189.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.33 ฿10.90

360.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$2.47 ฿81.0

231.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$3.88 ฿127

108.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.90 ฿62.4

-30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.67 ฿54.7

131.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$1.35 ฿44.24

345.93%

Eggs

$5.76 $5.76

$2.14 ฿70.2

169.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$15.89 ฿521

-12.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.44 $10.44

$2.83 ฿92.9

268.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.81 $16.81

$10.53 ฿345

59.64%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.38 ฿78.2

157.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.07 ฿35.01

62.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.52 ฿49.79

184.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$1.50 ฿49.30

236.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.28 ฿41.96

132.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.10 ฿36.17

242.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.69 ฿22.54

347.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$0.49 ฿16.18

475.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.72 $11.72

$4.27 ฿140

174.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.20 $20.20

$16.78 ฿550

20.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.66 ฿54.4

6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.81 ฿92.3

96.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.20 ฿39.24

155.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.54 ฿17.78

272.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.91 $23.91

$2.37 ฿77.9

908.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.43 ฿46.88

-25.87%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$21.1K ฿691.5K

69.63%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.1K ฿890.2K

-5.47%

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

$224 $224

$64.7 ฿2,124

246.25%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$13.19 ฿433

349.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 $50.5

$19.44 ฿638

159.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.5 $79.5

$39.45 ฿1,294

101.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$6.62 ฿217

125.68%

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

$1,777 $1,777

$805 ฿26.4K

120.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$15.1K ฿496.1K

5.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.50 $40.50

$54.8 ฿1,796

-26.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 $57.4

$25.43 ฿834

125.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 $78.3

$91.9 ฿3,015

-14.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$74.7 ฿2,449

109.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,750 $2,750

$467 ฿15.3K

489.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$282 ฿9,251

797.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,525 $5,525

$891 ฿29.2K

520.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,943 $4,943

$521 ฿17.1K

848.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

5.57

13.11%

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

Last update for Summit, NJ: August 17, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,750 in Summit, NJ versus $467 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 $100 in Summit, NJ versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $237 – 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

Summit, NJ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Summit, NJ costs about 322% 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 $5,831 per month in Summit, NJ and $1,380 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 $100 in Summit, NJ 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 90% more in Summit, NJ, 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 $920, than in Summit, NJ at $3,887. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Summit, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $3,887 in Summit, NJ. 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, Summit, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.