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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $859 in Negril, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,358 in Negril, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,856 in Negril, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Negril, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Negril are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Negril 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$7.46 JMD 1,173

-73.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$50.1 JMD 7,882

-62.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$8.56 JMD 1,347

-9.46%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$2.06 JMD 323

-6.80%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$1.32 JMD 208

-40.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$0.76 JMD 119

-52.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$2.47 JMD 389

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$3.09 JMD 487

18.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$4.21 JMD 662

-60.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$3.49 JMD 549

-53.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$1.57 JMD 248

-24.20%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$3.41 JMD 536

-41.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$10.85 JMD 1,707

47.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$6.29 JMD 989

-51.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

$7.67 JMD 1,206

41.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$5.99 JMD 942

-53.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$3.03 JMD 476

-61.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$4.29 JMD 675

-61.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$2.93 JMD 461

-48.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$2.08 JMD 327

-33.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$1.95 JMD 307

-38.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$3.07 JMD 484

-77.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.49 JMD 234

-62.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$9.03 JMD 1,420

-49.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$11.59 JMD 1,823

42.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$2.79 JMD 439

-34.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$3.20 JMD 504

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$1.09 JMD 171

24.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$3.24 JMD 510

-58.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$6.15 JMD 967

27.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.28 JMD 201

-3.91%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

-49.59%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-33.95%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$164 JMD 25.8K

-56.92%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$22.38 JMD 3,520

-38.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$51.6 JMD 8,121

-66.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$13.20 JMD 2,076

-56.29%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$230 JMD 36.2K

33.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$2,528 JMD 397.6K

478.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$26.42 JMD 4,156

111.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$25.97 JMD 4,085

0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$70.8 JMD 11.1K

21.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

-6.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$984 JMD 154.7K

-56.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Negril: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $984 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 $50.0 in Negril. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $348 – 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

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Negril, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,289 in Negril. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Negril, 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 $50.0 in Negril. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 44% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Negril, where all-in costs run around $859, than in Chiang Mai at $869. In Negril it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Negril costs $859 versus $869 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 Negril. 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.