City Comparison

Bangkok vs New Bedford

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bangkok

Thailand
47
Very Affordable
$165,000
Median Home
$575/mo
Median Rent
$14,400
Median Income

New Bedford

Massachusetts
112
Above Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

The Verdict

58.0%

Bangkok is 58.0% less expensive than New Bedford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bangkok would need approximately $178,723 in New Bedford to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
32
Bangkok
116
New Bedford
Groceries
48
Bangkok
104
New Bedford
Utilities
38
Bangkok
145
New Bedford
Transportation
42
Bangkok
108
New Bedford
Healthcare
28
Bangkok
118
New Bedford

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bangkok has the same purchasing power as $178,723 in New Bedford.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $31,473 in Bangkok.

Living in Bangkok vs New Bedford

Housing Costs

Bangkok's housing index of 32 is lower New Bedford's 116, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $371,000. The $206,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,392 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $575/mo in Bangkok compared to $1,225/mo in New Bedford, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 48 in Bangkok and 104 in New Bedford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $228/month in Bangkok vs $494/month in New Bedford. Bangkok offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $3192/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 38 in Bangkok and 145 in New Bedford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $152 in Bangkok vs $580 in New Bedford. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 28 in Bangkok and 118 in New Bedford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 90-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $14,400 in Bangkok and $57,000 in New Bedford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $30,638 and $50,893 respectively. New Bedford residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $336/month to housing in Bangkok vs $1,330/month in New Bedford. In Bangkok, median rent of $575/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In New Bedford, median rent of $1,225/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 107 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bangkok is 58.0% more affordable overall with an index of 47 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Bangkok has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $178,723 in New Bedford, based on the cost of living difference.
Bangkok's housing index is 32 with median homes at $165,000, while New Bedford's is 116 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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