Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jamalpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jamalpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $322 in Jamalpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $535 in Jamalpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $748 in Jamalpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 163% more than Jamalpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jamalpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Jamalpur 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$1.66 ৳204

17.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$9.69 ৳1,189

90.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$4.88 ৳599

53.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.07 ৳499

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 ৳591

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.47 ৳181

31.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.35 ৳42.40

122.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.16 ৳19.26

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.65 ৳80.3

163.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.56 ৳68.5

178.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.61 ৳74.7

93.44%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.21 ৳148

63.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$6.98 ৳857

129.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.55 ৳313

24.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$6.07 ৳745

80.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$2.20 ৳270

19.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.95 ৳116

23.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$2.10 ৳258

-21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.66 ৳81.3

133.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.43 ৳53.2

220.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.54 ৳66.8

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.35 ৳43.47

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.26 ৳31.59

96.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.86 ৳1,088

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 ৳270

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 ৳601

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.84 ৳349

59.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.22 ৳27.03

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$10.43 ৳1,280

82.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.80 ৳98.4

76.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.43 ৳52.5

204.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$2.01 ৳246

302.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.05 ৳129

21.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$29.2K ৳3.6M

-27.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$27.5K ৳3.4M

-21.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.2 ฿2,230

$30.01 ৳3,683

130.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.97 ฿450

$4.76 ৳584

193.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$13.17 ৳1,617

36.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$13.25 ৳1,627

219.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$11.66 ৳1,430

-42.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$4.14 ৳508

43.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,640

$26.94 ৳3,306

1010.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$935 ৳114.8K

1487.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$15.76 ৳1,934

256.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$17.57 ৳2,157

53.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$32.89 ৳4,036

158.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$34.50 ৳4,234

108.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$70.5 ৳8,645

517.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$42.04 ৳5,159

470.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$163 ৳20.0K

390.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$96.9 ৳11.9K

414.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$589 ৳72.3K

238.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$396 ৳48.6K

286.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$163 ৳20.0K

285.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.29

-51.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Jamalpur: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $70 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 286% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Jamalpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 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

Chiang Mai costs about 163% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $482 in Jamalpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $26.94 in Jamalpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 129% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $322 in Jamalpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jamalpur costs $322 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.