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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $870 in Negril, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,358 in Negril, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,846 in Negril, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Negril, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Negril are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Negril 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.2

$7.59 JMD 1,195

-73.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿629

$49.34 JMD 7,770

-62.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿263

$9.00 JMD 1,418

-12.89%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.7

$1.97 JMD 310

-2.03%

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

$0.83 ฿27.92

$1.32 JMD 208

-37.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.77

$0.76 JMD 119

-53.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.6

$2.46 JMD 388

-9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.06 JMD 482

23.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.3

$4.40 JMD 693

-62.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.1

$3.47 JMD 546

-55.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$1.57 JMD 247

-24.84%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.7

$3.56 JMD 560

-43.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿543

$11.00 JMD 1,732

46.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$6.26 JMD 985

-51.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿364

$7.81 JMD 1,229

38.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$6.07 JMD 956

-55.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.03

$3.14 JMD 495

-61.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.6

$4.26 JMD 671

-61.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.3

$2.91 JMD 458

-47.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$2.01 JMD 317

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.75

$2.00 JMD 315

-39.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.57

$3.07 JMD 483

-77.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.65

$1.44 JMD 227

-63.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿157

$8.57 JMD 1,350

-45.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿595

$11.42 JMD 1,799

55.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.0

$2.81 JMD 443

-34.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$3.08 JMD 485

4.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.27

$1.09 JMD 171

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.40

$3.13 JMD 493

-58.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$6.22 JMD 979

25.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.47

$1.27 JMD 200

1.57%

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

$21.8K ฿731.4K

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

-49.37%

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

$21.7K ฿728.8K

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

-36.02%

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

$70.0 ฿2,351

$165 JMD 26.0K

-57.61%

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

$14.19 ฿477

$22.25 JMD 3,505

-36.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿585

$51.0 JMD 8,024

-65.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,399

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿194

$13.06 JMD 2,057

-55.74%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$230 JMD 36.2K

30.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿487.9K

$2,500 JMD 393.7K

480.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,860

$25.79 JMD 4,061

114.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿884

$25.48 JMD 4,013

3.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,851

$72.2 JMD 11.4K

17.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,368

$74.8 JMD 11.8K

-5.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$1,003 JMD 158.0K

-57.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,898

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Negril: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $1,003 in Negril. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Negril. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $350 – making Chiang Mai 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 Negril: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negril costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,305 in Negril. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $49.00 in Negril. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Negril, 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 $847, than in Negril at $870. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Negril it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $870 in Negril. 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, Negril makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.