Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jamalpur

For one person, living is cheaper in Jamalpur: $343 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Jamalpur, Bangladesh
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Jamalpur
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$343
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Jamalpur

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Jamalpur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $343 in Jamalpur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Jamalpur $343

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $572 in Jamalpur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Jamalpur $572

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $800 in Jamalpur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Jamalpur $800

Chiang Mai costs about 173% more than Jamalpur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Jamalpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Jamalpur 75% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$0.99 ৳123
126.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$10.38 ৳1,286
83.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$5.98 ৳741
-7.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.60 ৳322
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.10 ৳508
-
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.93 ৳239
-13.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$0.29 ৳36.25
120.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.17 ৳20.58
82.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.03 ৳128
89.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.46
$0.51 ৳62.8
182.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.03
$0.97 ৳120
37.11%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$2.05 ৳254
11.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$7.90 ৳978
108.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$3.17 ৳393
-12.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$6.07 ৳752
53.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.46 ৳304
-4.47%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.79
$0.90 ৳111
7.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.13 ৳264
-24.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.50 ৳62.3
200.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.11
$0.54 ৳66.7
137.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.18
$0.50 ৳61.6
120.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.40 ৳49.04
77.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.36
$0.28 ৳34.59
75.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$7.88 ৳977
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 ৳231
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.48 ৳555
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.30 ৳285
80.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.30
$0.29 ৳35.95
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,825
$6.55 ৳812
725.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.04
$0.83 ৳103
39.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.38 ৳47.40
39.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.7
$2.90 ৳359
-16.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.88
$1.08 ৳134
34.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.5K
$29.5K ৳3.7M
-28.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.0K
$32.0K ৳4.0M
-15.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$29.67 ৳3,677
109.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$6.21 ৳770
95.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$12.08 ৳1,497
66.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$15.97 ৳1,980
133.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$15.91 ৳1,972
-76.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$3.61 ৳447
79.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$25.07 ৳3,107
2836.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.2K
$1,047 ৳129.7K
1310.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$16.00 ৳1,983
233.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$18.46 ৳2,287
33.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$32.26 ৳3,998
183.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,427
$33.95 ৳4,207
111.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$88.9 ৳11.0K
442.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$43.98 ৳5,450
602.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$170 ৳21.0K
492.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$113 ৳14.0K
460.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.7K
$683 ৳84.7K
245.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,043 ৳129.2K
52.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$161 ৳19.9K
266.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.67
-47.80%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Jamalpur: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Jamalpur
$44 85.8% $265
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Jamalpur
$121 48.2% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Jamalpur
$45 58.3% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Jamalpur
$48 49.2% $46
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Jamalpur
$51 34.4% $27
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Jamalpur
$10 83% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Jamalpur
$23 53.9% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $89 in Jamalpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 3.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Jamalpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $121 – making Jamalpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇧🇩 Jamalpur
🕒 Local time
14:19 2:19 PM
13:19 1:19 PM
1 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
150,172
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.78 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.07 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Jamalpur 1,160 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Jamalpur

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Chiang Mai vs Jamalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Jamalpur?
Chiang Mai costs about 173% more than Jamalpur, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Chiang Mai and in Jamalpur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $515 in Jamalpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Jamalpur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jamalpur, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $89 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Jamalpur?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $25 in Jamalpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Jamalpur?
Groceries cost about 93% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Jamalpur?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $936 in Chiang Mai and $343 in Jamalpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Jamalpur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Jamalpur?
If budget matters most, go with Jamalpur. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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