Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Janub-as-surrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Janub-as-surrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,207 in Janub-as-surrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,099 in Janub-as-surrah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Janub-as-surrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Janub-as-surrah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Janub-as-surrah 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$7.64 KWD 2.35

-74.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$57.9 KWD 17.81

-68.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.76 KWD 2.69

-14.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 KWD 0.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 KWD 1.10

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$5.55 KWD 1.71

-63.60%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.64 KWD 0.20

32.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.48 KWD 0.45

11.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.10 KWD 0.34

42.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-28.74%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.97 KWD 0.60

-1.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.46 KWD 1.37

263.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.33 KWD 1.95

-52.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.90 KWD 3.04

10.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.32 KWD 0.71

16.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.61 KWD 0.49

-27.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.52 KWD 0.47

11.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.42 KWD 0.44

12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.28 KWD 0.39

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.14 KWD 0.35

5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-58.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.43 KWD 0.13

30.23%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 KWD 0.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.87 KWD 0.88

61.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.84 KWD 0.26

4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$44.11 KWD 13.56

-56.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-58.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$3.27 KWD 1.01

-59.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$16.39 KWD 5.04

-49.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.34 KWD 0.10

258.82%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$20.5K KWD 6,294

4.29%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$19.0K KWD 5,827

18.84%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$62.6 KWD 19.24

12.93%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$18.52 KWD 5.69

-24.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$25.60 KWD 7.87

-31.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$95.2 KWD 29.25

-55.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$46.77 KWD 14.38

-85.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$11.60 KWD 3.57

-48.97%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$286 KWD 87.9

7.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$6,180 KWD 1,900

140.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$42.13 KWD 12.95

32.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$42.17 KWD 12.96

-38.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$88.4 KWD 27.17

-6.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$81.2 KWD 24.95

-13.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$802 KWD 246

-46.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$614 KWD 189

-61.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,602 KWD 492

-48.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,284 KWD 395

-60.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

-29.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Janub-as-surrah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $802 in Janub-as-surrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $58.0 in Janub-as-surrah. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $167 in Janub-as-surrah – so Janub-as-surrah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Janub-as-surrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Janub-as-surrah costs about 53% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,972 in Janub-as-surrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $286 in Janub-as-surrah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 46% cheaper in Janub-as-surrah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Janub-as-surrah at $1,315. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Janub-as-surrah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Janub-as-surrah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.