Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Juba

For one person, living is cheaper in Juba: $233 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Juba

🇸🇸 South Sudan

$233

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Juba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Juba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $233 in Juba, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Juba $233

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $362 in Juba, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Juba $362

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $492 in Juba, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Juba $492

Chiang Mai costs about 302% more than Juba.

Both Chiang Mai and Juba are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Juba 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$19.73 SSP 113.5K

-88.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$9.24 SSP 53.1K

-39.94%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$3.42 SSP 19.7K

-51.17%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$1.49 SSP 8,547

-57.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,743 SSP 10.0M

-66.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-53.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Juba: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Juba

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Juba

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Juba

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Juba

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Juba

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Juba

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Juba

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Juba are about 3 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇸🇸 Juba

🕒 Local time

02:59 2:59 AM

21:59 9:59 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

372,410 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

South Sudanese Pound SSP £

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 SSP = 1.74 USD

10,000 SSP = 1.56 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

SSP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

South Sudanese Pound exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5,751 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.74 USD). 1 EUR = 6,402 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.56 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Juba 7,460 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Juba

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Juba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 302% more than Juba, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $349 in Juba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $233 in Juba to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.