😐A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $319 in Jamalpur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $523 in Jamalpur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $728 in Jamalpur, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 166% more than Jamalpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Jamalpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Jamalpur76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿63.6
$1.62৳199
20.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿598
$10.11৳1,239
81.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿256
$4.96৳609
58.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.00৳490
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.63৳568
-
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.4
$1.44৳176
35.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.57
$0.34৳41.77
150.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.52
$0.17৳20.36
88.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿69.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿120
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿53.9
$0.66৳80.6
151.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.7
$0.56৳68.6
178.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.63
$0.60৳73.6
98.33%
Eggs
$1.99฿64.7
$1.18৳144
68.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿528
$6.69৳820
142.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿103
$2.54৳311
24.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿352
$6.35৳779
70.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿86.2
$2.24৳275
18.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.67
$0.94৳115
29.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.7
$2.07৳253
-20.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.3
$0.62৳75.7
150.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.17
$0.43৳53.2
209.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.43
$0.59৳72.2
105.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.04
$0.35৳43.48
94.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.38
$0.28৳34.35
103.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$8.57৳1,050
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.28৳279
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.04৳618
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿152
$2.84৳348
64.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿552
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿103
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.46
$0.20৳24.46
355.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿609
$10.28৳1,259
82.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.80
$0.83৳102
69.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.52
$0.40৳48.71
235.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿265
$2.04৳250
299.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.53
$1.00৳123
28.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿709.3K
$28.9K৳3.5M
-24.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿728.0K
$28.0K৳3.4M
-20.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,291
$29.77৳3,649
136.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿457
$4.67৳572
200.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿574
$12.99৳1,592
35.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,342
$13.41৳1,643
207.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿220
$12.03৳1,474
-43.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿194
$3.98৳488
49.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,846
$26.87৳3,293
1027.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿486.2K
$929৳113.9K
1510.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,778
$16.27৳1,995
236.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿854
$17.75৳2,175
48.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,788
$33.12৳4,059
159.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,265
$33.48৳4,103
108.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿13.9K
$69.7৳8,538
514.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,769
$41.81৳5,125
471.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.4K
$162৳19.9K
399.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.6K
$98.4৳12.1K
417.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿65.8K
$754৳92.4K
168.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿48.8K
$1,042৳127.7K
44.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jamalpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.2K
$166৳20.3K
275.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
10.29
-51.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Last update for Jamalpur: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $69.7 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 run about 275% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Jamalpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $107 – making Jamalpur 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
Chiang Mai vs Jamalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Jamalpur?
Chiang Mai costs about 166% more than Jamalpur, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Jamalpur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $479 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Jamalpur?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $26.87 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 Jamalpur?
Groceries cost about 127% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Jamalpur?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $319 in Jamalpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Jamalpur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jamalpur costs $319 versus $848 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Jamalpur?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Jamalpur?
If budget matters most, go with Jamalpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared