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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,345 in Jihlava, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,865 in Jihlava, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,384 in Jihlava, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Jihlava is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.6
$7.34 Kč 153
-73.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$22.91 Kč 478
-18.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿256
$7.53 Kč 157
3.85%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.9
$2.89 Kč 60.2
-32.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.80
$1.10 Kč 22.94
-22.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.60
$1.27 Kč 26.53
-72.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.7
$1.67 Kč 34.91
27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$1.73 Kč 36.07
115.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.02 Kč 21.22
67.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.3
$1.01 Kč 21.11
61.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.18
$2.21 Kč 46.00
-48.42%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.2
$2.66 Kč 55.5
-27.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$10.07 Kč 210
60.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$9.91 Kč 207
-68.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$8.44 Kč 176
29.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$0.94 Kč 19.67
192.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.56
$1.33 Kč 27.66
-9.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$1.94 Kč 40.46
-16.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.9
$1.37 Kč 28.66
16.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.75
$0.72 Kč 15.04
94.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.20
$0.85 Kč 17.66
37.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.62
$1.43 Kč 29.91
-53.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.24
$0.69 Kč 14.44
-23.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$6.36 Kč 133
-26.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿610
$5.80 Kč 121
221.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$0.80 Kč 16.61
125.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$1.78 Kč 37.04
81.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.28
$1.04 Kč 21.70
-13.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$20.81 Kč 434
-7.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.96
$1.38 Kč 28.84
2.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.16
$1.23 Kč 25.67
4.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$13.99 Kč 292
-43.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.62
$1.72 Kč 35.89
-26.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿695.5K
$45.7K Kč 951.9K
-53.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿726.1K
$34.0K Kč 708.3K
-34.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,258
$162 Kč 3,383
-57.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$27.35 Kč 570
-48.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$21.64 Kč 451
-16.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,342
$54.6 Kč 1,139
-24.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$17.13 Kč 357
-59.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$10.85 Kč 226
-45.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,775
$405 Kč 8,446
-26.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.8K
$10.1K Kč 211.3K
47.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,788
$81.3 Kč 1,694
-32.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿875
$22.95 Kč 478
16.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,778
$74.3 Kč 1,550
14.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,308
$112 Kč 2,325
-36.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$567 Kč 11.8K
-24.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,759
$563 Kč 11.7K
-57.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$690 Kč 14.4K
16.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.9K
$734 Kč 15.3K
-29.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jihlava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$1,460 Kč 30.4K
-57.72%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jihlava: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $567 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 137% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Jihlava. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $209 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 55% 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 vs Jihlava?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,018 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 Jihlava?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $405 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 Jihlava?
Interestingly, groceries are about 18% 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 Jihlava?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Jihlava at $1,345. 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 $866 versus $1,345 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 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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