😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $575 in Juticalpa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $952 in Juticalpa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,330 in Juticalpa, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Juticalpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Juticalpa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Juticalpa57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$5.63HNL 151
-65.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$37.78HNL 1,010
-51.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$7.87HNL 210
-4.96%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$2.35HNL 62.7
-14.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$0.94HNL 25.06
-9.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$1.16HNL 31.12
-68.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$1.13HNL 30.23
89.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$2.67HNL 71.3
34.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$1.44HNL 38.42
14.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$2.13HNL 57.0
-26.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$1.29HNL 34.38
-7.75%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$2.03HNL 54.4
-4.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$6.12HNL 164
164.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$3.69HNL 98.7
-18.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$7.92HNL 212
38.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$2.97HNL 79.5
-8.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$1.51HNL 40.43
-22.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$1.44HNL 38.63
17.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$1.54HNL 41.10
3.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$1.68HNL 44.82
-17.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$1.34HNL 35.95
-10.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$0.84HNL 22.35
-20.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$1.72HNL 46.05
-67.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$2.46HNL 65.7
88.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$1.30HNL 34.73
43.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$1.85HNL 49.56
78.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$4.11HNL 110
-66.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$1.04HNL 27.71
17.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$19.5KHNL 521.8K
9.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$19.5KHNL 521.3K
15.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$80.7HNL 2,157
-12.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$8.79HNL 235
59.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$40.30HNL 1,077
-56.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$5.69HNL 152
4.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$250HNL 6,689
23.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$45.21HNL 1,209
23.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$35.28HNL 943
-25.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$110HNL 2,949
-24.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$101HNL 2,700
-30.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Juticalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
12
-58.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Juticalpa: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Juticalpa. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Juticalpa – so Juticalpa 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 Juticalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Juticalpa?
Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Juticalpa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 and in Juticalpa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $862 in Juticalpa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Juticalpa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Juticalpa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Juticalpa?
Groceries cost about 29% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Juticalpa?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $575 in Juticalpa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Juticalpa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Juticalpa costs $575 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Juticalpa?
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 to Juticalpa?
If budget matters most, go with Juticalpa. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared