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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $353 in Jerudong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $619 in Jerudong, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $885 in Jerudong, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Jerudong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jerudong are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Jerudong 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$12.00 BND 15.26

-82.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$23.60 BND 29.99

-16.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$3.99 BND 5.08

-54.64%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$2.32 BND 2.94

-69.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$1.17 BND 1.49

-72.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$2.34 BND 2.98

-16.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$1.90 BND 2.42

-21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$3.20 BND 4.06

-58.13%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$4.69 BND 5.96

-45.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$3.96 BND 5.03

-73.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$3.15 BND 4.01

-77.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

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

$12.85 ฿426

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$78.9 BND 100

-50.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$3.84 BND 4.88

75.52%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jerudong: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Jerudong. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $115 in Jerudong – so Jerudong 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 Jerudong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Jerudong, 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 $529 in Jerudong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $353 in Jerudong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 109% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jerudong, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Jerudong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jerudong costs $353 versus $947 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 Jerudong. 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.