Moving to Thailand from New Jersey

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from New Jersey to Thailand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from New Jersey to Thailand, you would find that Thailand is 64.9% cheaper than New Jersey. A $75,000 salary in New Jersey would need to be roughly THB883,000 in Thailand to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Thai. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bangkok averages 91°F vs 67°F in Newark, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Thailand cheaper than New Jersey?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 73.7% less

Groceries

pay 51.4% less

Transportation

pay 27.3% less

Housing

pay 81.1% less

Childcare

pay 64.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 56.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 33.57 THB (November 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Thailand?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → THB883,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Thailand

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Thailand cost about 50% less than cities in New Jersey.

New Jersey

Princeton 84%
Hoboken 83%
Newark 75%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from New Jersey to Thailand, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
4,211 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Thailand · UN DESA

Who's moving to Thailand?

Top countries of origin for Thailand's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Jersey to Thailand.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

NJ
30.0%
TH
16.4%

Thailand performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

NJ
91.9%
TH
90.9%

New Jersey performs better than Thailand across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NJ
4.5%
TH
0.8%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NJ
$70,788
TH
$8,057

Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though New Jersey leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

NJ
77.5 yrs
TH
76.6 yrs

New Jersey performs better than Thailand across all family life metrics.

Weather in Thailand vs New Jersey

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Newark Rain: 46.2 in/yr (1174 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bangkok Rain: 59.0 in/yr (1498 mm)
91° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Newark Bangkok
Jan–Mar 48°/27°F (9°/-2°C) 91°/74°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/51°F (24°/11°C) 93°/78°F (34°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) 90°/77°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/36°F (14°/2°C) 89°/73°F (32°/23°C)
View all months
Month Newark Bangkok
Jan 42°/24°F (5.6°/-4.4°C) 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C)
Feb 46°/26°F (7.7°/-3.2°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C)
Mar 55°/32°F (12.7°/0.2°C) 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C)
Apr 67°/42°F (19.4°/5.3°C) 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C)
May 76°/51°F (24.6°/10.7°C) 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C)
Jun 85°/61°F (29.5°/16.3°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C)
Jul 88°/66°F (31.2°/18.8°C) 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C)
Aug 87°/65°F (30.4°/18.1°C) 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C)
Sep 80°/57°F (26.5°/14.0°C) 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C)
Oct 69°/45°F (20.4°/7.3°C) 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C)
Nov 58°/36°F (14.2°/2.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C)
Dec 46°/28°F (7.8°/-2.2°C) 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Thai Meteorological Department Thai Meteorological Department

Can you move from New Jersey to Thailand?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Thailand. To live, work, or study long-term in Thailand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Thailand's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Thailand

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa.
Thailand passport

Thailand passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Thailand passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Thailand than New Jersey?

Yes — Thailand is on average about 65% cheaper than New Jersey. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Thailand?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly THB220,750 in Thailand on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Thailand?

Usually fine from major cities in Thailand. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Thailand compared to New Jersey?

Thailand performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Thailand compared to New Jersey?

The average high temperature in Bangkok is 91°F, compared to 67°F in Newark. Bangkok receives around 59.0 in of rainfall per year, while Newark gets 46.2 in.

What language do they speak in Thailand?

The official language in Thailand is Thai. In New Jersey, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

TH
Population 9,548,215 71,619,863
Currency United States Dollar ($) Thai Baht (THB)
Languages English Thai
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +66
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 191