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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $392 in Jorhat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $623 in Jorhat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $854 in Jorhat, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Jorhat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jorhat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Jorhat 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.42 ₹136

43.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$10.37 ₹989

80.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.92 ₹565

32.77%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.63 ₹155

24.54%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.33 ₹31.94

142.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.11 ₹10.20

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.41 ₹135

51.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.17 ₹303

15.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.71 ₹67.5

143.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.33 ₹31.77

375.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.54 ₹51.2

122.22%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.00 ₹95.5

97.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$4.39 ₹418

269.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.20 ₹306

-4.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.90 ₹85.9

207.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.73 ₹69.9

60.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.97 ₹93.0

76.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.78 ₹74.3

103.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.29 ₹27.27

379.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.35 ₹33.59

231.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.22 ₹20.87

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.30 ₹28.98

73.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.99 ₹285

55.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$7.09 ₹676

150.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.54 ₹147

16.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.90 ₹276

15.17%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.24 ₹404

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.20 ₹18.63

355.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.55 ₹816

118.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.75 ₹71.2

88.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.24 ₹22.85

458.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.46 ₹139

455.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.18 ₹112

4.24%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

51.90%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$17.6K ₹1.7M

23.99%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$41.05 ₹3,915

73.76%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.36 ₹320

316.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$4.71 ₹449

280.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$28.93 ₹2,759

41.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$2.32 ₹221

196.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.87 ₹274

99.30%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$33.06 ₹3,153

832.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,936 ₹184.6K

658.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$25.49 ₹2,431

118.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$35.86 ₹3,420

-27.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$47.24 ₹4,505

79.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$43.66 ₹4,164

62.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$124 ₹11.8K

242.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$75.3 ₹7,184

221.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$276 ₹26.3K

188.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$179 ₹17.1K

183.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,004 ₹95.8K

91.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$562 ₹53.6K

160.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$678 ₹64.6K

-12.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

-32.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Jorhat: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Jorhat. 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 14% higher in Jorhat, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Jorhat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $96.0 – making Jorhat 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 Jorhat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Jorhat, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $587 in Jorhat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jorhat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $33.06 in Jorhat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 154% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $392 in Jorhat, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jorhat costs $392 versus $852 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 Jorhat. 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.