😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in 'ajlun versus $947 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in 'ajlun versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,044 in 'ajlun versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in 'ajlun is roughly 1% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: 'ajlun30% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.22JOD 5.11
$2.08฿69.2
247.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4JOD 47.72
$19.64฿651
243.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09JOD 5.02
$5.65฿188
25.49%
Cappuccino
$4.55JOD 3.22
$1.81฿59.9
151.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34JOD 0.24
$0.71฿23.66
-52.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41JOD 0.29
$0.32฿10.48
28.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.40JOD 5.94
$2.24฿74.2
275.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.83JOD 7.66
$3.63฿121
198.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44JOD 1.02
$1.96฿65.0
-26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71JOD 0.50
$1.50฿49.83
-52.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52JOD 1.07
$1.34฿44.32
13.43%
Eggs
$2.42JOD 1.71
$2.26฿75.1
7.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.03JOD 6.39
$16.26฿539
-44.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.74JOD 4.77
$2.95฿98.0
128.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.68JOD 8.97
$9.94฿330
27.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.11JOD 0.78
$2.57฿85.3
-56.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14JOD 0.81
$1.06฿35.04
7.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15JOD 0.81
$1.61฿53.5
-28.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86JOD 0.61
$1.52฿50.4
-43.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82JOD 0.58
$1.27฿42.14
-35.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$1.07฿35.37
-36.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61JOD 0.43
$0.72฿23.89
-15.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61JOD 0.43
$0.51฿16.87
19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86JOD 2.73
$4.19฿139
-7.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.86JOD 14.76
$17.87฿593
16.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.16JOD 3.65
$1.69฿56.2
205.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18JOD 3.67
$2.84฿94.1
82.39%
🚌 Getting Around
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59JOD 0.42
$0.93฿30.70
-36.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,787
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60JOD 0.42
$1.23฿40.95
-51.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40JOD 0.99
$0.58฿19.13
141.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.09JOD 5.02
$2.42฿80.4
192.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62JOD 1.14
$1.41฿46.84
14.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KJOD 25.0K
$21.4K฿711.3K
64.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KJOD 23.9K
$27.3K฿906.7K
23.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.43JOD 34.27
$63.7฿2,112
-23.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09JOD 9.97
$12.85฿426
9.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.69JOD 19.60
$20.22฿671
36.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.74฿1,285
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿132
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.10JOD 7.85
$6.74฿223
64.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$482JOD 341
$778฿25.8K
-38.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,577JOD 6,778
$14.6K฿484.6K
-34.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7JOD 44.40
$54.3฿1,801
15.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$83.6JOD 59.2
$25.45฿844
228.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127JOD 89.9
$94.3฿3,129
34.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1JOD 62.4
$73.4฿2,436
20.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281JOD 199
$490฿16.2K
-42.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$211JOD 149
$289฿9,596
-27.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424JOD 300
$894฿29.6K
-52.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$284JOD 201
$517฿17.1K
-45.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,955฿64.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,477฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
'ajlun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$686JOD 485
$602฿20.0K
13.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.81
5.57
22.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for 'ajlun: August 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in 'ajlun and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰'ajlun pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in 'ajlun vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $240 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
'ajlun vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than 'ajlun?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: 'ajlun or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 14% higher in 'ajlun, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between 'ajlun and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $281 in 'ajlun versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $482 in 'ajlun versus $778 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in 'ajlun or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $67.0 in 'ajlun. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in 'ajlun or in Chiang Mai?
At $947 in Chiang Mai versus $957 in 'ajlun, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in 'ajlun. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is 'ajlun or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in 'ajlun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, 'ajlun or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, 'ajlun and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in 'ajlun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
'ajlun vs other spots: cost of living compared