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Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Johor Bahru Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Johor Bahru

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 5.2% more expensive than Johor Bahru without rent, and 10.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 11.1% more expensive than Johor Bahru without rent, and 0.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
$3.55 MYRย 14.43
-44.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 เธฟ587
$18.55 MYRย 75.3
0.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 เธฟ249
$4.57 MYRย 18.55
73.30%
Cappuccino
$2.02 เธฟ63.6
$2.91 MYRย 11.82
-30.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 เธฟ26.44
$0.86 MYRย 3.47
-2.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 เธฟ11.06
$0.46 MYRย 1.86
-23.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
$3.47 MYRย 14.10
-36.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 เธฟ113
$6.62 MYRย 26.86
-45.77%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 เธฟ52.3
$1.89 MYRย 7.68
-11.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
$0.99 MYRย 4.02
63.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 เธฟ37.82
$1.30 MYRย 5.27
-7.69%
Eggs
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
$1.83 MYRย 7.43
5.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 เธฟ503
$10.41 MYRย 42.27
53.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
$3.51 MYRย 14.24
-9.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 เธฟ343
$8.21 MYRย 33.33
33.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
$2.65 MYRย 10.75
0.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ36.98
$1.51 MYRย 6.12
-21.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
$2.55 MYRย 10.37
-35.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ49.82
$1.22 MYRย 4.95
30.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 เธฟ41.63
$1.19 MYRย 4.81
10.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ37.48
$1.38 MYRย 5.61
-13.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 เธฟ22.19
$0.94 MYRย 3.81
-24.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ17.74
$0.52 MYRย 2.10
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 เธฟ146
$4.33 MYRย 17.56
7.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 เธฟ596
$14.07 MYRย 57.1
34.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 เธฟ55.6
$2.78 MYRย 11.27
-36.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ101
$3.02 MYRย 12.26
5.96%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.31
$0.68 MYRย 2.77
32.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.24 เธฟ605
$11.82 MYRย 47.99
62.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ42.77
$0.99 MYRย 4.02
37.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 เธฟ42.35
$0.98 MYRย 4.00
37.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.15 เธฟ256
$9.30 MYRย 37.75
-12.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 เธฟ38.42
$0.46 MYRย 1.87
165.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K เธฟ671.6K
$35.5K MYRย 144.1K
-39.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ683.6K
$27.4K MYRย 111.1K
-20.51%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
$40.90 MYRย 166
71.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91 เธฟ437
$9.01 MYRย 36.58
54.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 เธฟ566
$31.38 MYRย 127
-42.64%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 เธฟ1,313
$35.37 MYRย 144
18.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 เธฟ214
$5.96 MYRย 24.19
14.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 เธฟ180
$5.08 MYRย 20.62
12.60%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 เธฟ9,690
$190 MYRย 772
62.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ465.6K
$6,995 MYRย 28.4K
111.76%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 เธฟ1,755
$49.82 MYRย 202
12.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71 เธฟ839
$18.54 MYRย 75.3
44.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 เธฟ2,657
$55.1 MYRย 224
53.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 เธฟ2,226
$39.45 MYRย 160
79.54%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 เธฟ13.5K
$455 MYRย 1,848
-5.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 เธฟ7,437
$401 MYRย 1,629
-41.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ25.5K
$833 MYRย 3,381
-2.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 เธฟ15.7K
$604 MYRย 2,453
-17.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
$2,023 MYRย 8,215
8.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
$1,145 MYRย 4,650
39.72%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Johor Bahru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$684 เธฟ21.5K
$1,045 MYRย 4,241
-34.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.07
22.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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