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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,325 in Jayuya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,033 in Jayuya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,740 in Jayuya, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Jayuya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jayuya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Jayuya 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$11.88 $11.88

-82.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿654

$60.5 $60.5

-67.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$7.98 $7.98

-29.20%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$4.89 $4.89

-62.99%

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

$0.71 ฿23.75

$1.04 $1.04

-31.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$1.22 $1.22

-73.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.5

$2.05 $2.05

9.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.94 $3.94

-7.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.2

$1.95 $1.95

0.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$3.03 $3.03

-50.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$3.42 $3.42

-60.82%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$5.55 $5.55

-59.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿541

$11.91 $11.91

36.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.4

$6.16 $6.16

-52.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿331

$6.74 $6.74

47.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.7

$8.14 $8.14

-68.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.18

$3.92 $3.92

-72.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.7

$7.18 $7.18

-77.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.6

$5.27 $5.27

-71.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.30

$4.02 $4.02

-68.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.51

$1.97 $1.97

-45.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.98

$3.95 $3.95

-81.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.94

$1.98 $1.98

-74.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿140

$11.08 $11.08

-62.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿595

$15.08 $15.08

18.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.4

$2.17 $2.17

-22.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.5

$3.48 $3.48

-18.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.82

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿41.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.88 $0.88

60.23%

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

$21.4K ฿714.1K

$54.6K $54.6K

-60.72%

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

$27.3K ฿910.2K

$35.3K $35.3K

-22.67%

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

$63.7 ฿2,120

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

$12.85 ฿428

$40.43 $40.43

-68.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿673

$69.9 $69.9

-71.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,290

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿224

$9.03 $9.03

-25.36%

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

$778 ฿25.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿486.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,808

$71.0 $71.0

-23.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿847

$50.2 $50.2

-49.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,141

$90.3 $90.3

4.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,446

$150 $150

-51.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$499 $499

-1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,634

$442 $442

-34.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.8K

$656 $656

36.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.2K

$539 $539

-4.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿65.1K

$848 $848

130.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.2K

$792 $792

86.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,455 $1,455

-58.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.27

5.69%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jayuya: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $499 in Jayuya. 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 142% higher in Jayuya, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $60.0 in Jayuya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $395 – making Chiang Mai 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 Jayuya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jayuya costs about 40% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,988 in Jayuya. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $1,325 in Jayuya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 64% more in Jayuya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Jayuya at $1,325. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jayuya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,325 in Jayuya. 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, Jayuya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.