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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,002 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,365 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,728 in Jos, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Jos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Jos 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.29 ₦1,775

51.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$13.85 ₦19.1K

35.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.70 ₦6,472

68.51%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.33 ₦3,203

-18.03%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.34 ₦474

147.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.25 ₦345

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.69 ₦948

220.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.65 ₦5,030

-55.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.95 ₦1,310

70.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$3.29 ₦4,528

-64.13%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.95 ₦4,062

-31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.91 ₦13.6K

60.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.11 ₦7,042

-41.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$4.59 ₦6,316

134.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$4.11 ₦5,653

-36.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$4.89 ₦6,734

-75.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.72 ₦3,748

-37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$4.03 ₦5,543

-60.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.28 ₦3,143

-42.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.98 ₦2,720

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.64 ₦877

4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.71 ₦982

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$3.98 ₦5,486

357.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.74 ₦1,012

147.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.01 ₦1,393

33.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$10.14 ₦14.0K

-18.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.96 ₦1,323

32.29%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$98.7 ₦135.9K

-28.93%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$9.98 ₦13.7K

37.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$39.33 ₦54.2K

5.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$12.15 ₦16.7K

-45.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$8.77 ₦12.1K

-34.09%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$990 ₦1.4M

1397.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$10.01 ₦13.8K

443.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$14.95 ₦20.6K

74.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$50.1 ₦69.0K

68.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$49.78 ₦68.5K

39.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$697 ₦959.0K

-39.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$475 ₦654.6K

-49.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$875 ₦1.2M

-5.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$603 ₦829.6K

-14.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,960 ₦2.7M

4.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,521 ₦2.1M

0.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$108 ₦149.3K

485.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jos: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $697 in Jos. 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 486% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $14.00 in Jos. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $255 in Jos – so Chiang Mai 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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jos costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,504 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $1,002 in Jos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Jos at $1,002. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,002 in Jos. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.