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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,350 in Jihlava, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,866 in Jihlava, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,383 in Jihlava, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Jihlava, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Jihlava is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$7.35 Kč 156
-73.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$23.46 Kč 497
-21.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$7.74 Kč 164
-3.36%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$2.85 Kč 60.3
-29.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$1.12 Kč 23.71
-24.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$1.27 Kč 26.84
-71.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$1.58 Kč 33.50
35.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$1.73 Kč 36.72
107.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$1.06 Kč 22.45
55.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$1.02 Kč 21.52
53.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$2.27 Kč 48.12
-47.58%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$2.66 Kč 56.3
-27.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$10.35 Kč 219
56.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$9.78 Kč 207
-69.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$8.42 Kč 178
29.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$0.95 Kč 20.21
185.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$1.37 Kč 28.95
-14.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$1.95 Kč 41.40
-13.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$1.38 Kč 29.27
15.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$0.72 Kč 15.26
91.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$0.84 Kč 17.75
42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$1.44 Kč 30.54
-53.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$0.71 Kč 15.07
-21.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$6.70 Kč 142
-30.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$5.62 Kč 119
213.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$0.81 Kč 17.10
129.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$1.82 Kč 38.67
81.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$1.00 Kč 21.19
-12.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
$20.67 Kč 438
-6.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$1.33 Kč 28.14
2.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$1.24 Kč 26.19
8.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$14.14 Kč 300
-41.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$1.73 Kč 36.73
-29.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$45.9K Kč 972.1K
-53.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$33.9K Kč 718.3K
-33.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$164 Kč 3,466
-56.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$26.96 Kč 571
-47.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$22.11 Kč 469
-20.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$53.0 Kč 1,123
-20.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$17.07 Kč 362
-59.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$10.65 Kč 226
-44.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$417 Kč 8,827
-25.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
$9,918 Kč 210.2K
50.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$80.7 Kč 1,710
-30.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$23.70 Kč 502
10.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$75.1 Kč 1,591
10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$111 Kč 2,354
-36.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$562 Kč 11.9K
-23.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$571 Kč 12.1K
-58.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$700 Kč 14.8K
17.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$760 Kč 16.1K
-32.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$1,426 Kč 30.2K
-59.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.43
-7.92%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jihlava: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $562 in Jihlava. 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 146% higher in Jihlava, 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 $23.00 in Jihlava. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $210 in Jihlava – so Jihlava 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 Jihlava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Jihlava?
Jihlava costs about 57% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Jihlava?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,024 in Jihlava. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Jihlava?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Jihlava?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $417 in Jihlava. 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 in Jihlava?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Jihlava – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Jihlava?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Jihlava at $1,350. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jihlava it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Jihlava?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,350 in Jihlava. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Jihlava?
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 to Jihlava?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jihlava makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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