Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and St Brelade Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and St Brelade

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,844 in St Brelade, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,658 in St Brelade, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,472 in St Brelade, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 77% cheaper than St Brelade, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while St Brelade is 187% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$36.69 JEP 27.26
-94.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$135 JEP 100
-86.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$10.69 JEP 7.94
-26.85%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$5.06 JEP 3.76
-61.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$3.28 JEP 2.44
-74.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$2.64 JEP 1.96
-86.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$7.92 JEP 5.88
-73.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$8.04 JEP 5.97
-53.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$2.18 JEP 1.62
-21.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$2.35 JEP 1.75
-30.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$3.38 JEP 2.51
-66.27%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$5.77 JEP 4.29
-66.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$9.43 JEP 7.00
71.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$12.05 JEP 8.95
-74.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$19.42 JEP 14.43
-43.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$4.27 JEP 3.17
-35.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$3.20 JEP 2.38
-62.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$4.35 JEP 3.23
-62.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$4.35 JEP 3.23
-63.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$3.98 JEP 2.95
-64.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$3.82 JEP 2.84
-69.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$2.05 JEP 1.52
-67.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$2.46 JEP 1.82
-78.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$15.82 JEP 11.75
-70.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$10.68 JEP 7.94
74.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$4.42 JEP 3.29
-59.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$7.40 JEP 5.50
-56.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$3.69 JEP 2.74
-75.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$73.0 JEP 54.2
-73.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$5.49 JEP 4.08
-74.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$3.94 JEP 2.93
-67.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$34.45 JEP 25.60
-77.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$2.20 JEP 1.64
-42.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$22.6K JEP 16.8K
-5.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$33.3K JEP 24.8K
-33.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$248 JEP 184
-72.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$25.45 JEP 18.91
-44.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$76.3 JEP 56.7
-76.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$122 JEP 91.0
-66.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$16.43 JEP 12.21
-63.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$2,169 JEP 1,612
-86.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$9,064 JEP 6,735
64.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$107 JEP 79.6
-48.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$73.5 JEP 54.6
-63.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$129 JEP 95.6
-33.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$213 JEP 158
-66.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$1,843 JEP 1,369
-76.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$2,014 JEP 1,496
-88.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$3,262 JEP 2,424
-75.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$3,529 JEP 2,622
-85.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
St Brelade
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$2,321 JEP 1,724
-73.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3.85
29.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for St Brelade: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,843 in St Brelade. 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 276% higher in St Brelade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $135 in St Brelade. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $424 – 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 St Brelade: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or St Brelade?
St Brelade costs about 344% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 vs St Brelade?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,765 in St Brelade. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or St Brelade?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and St Brelade?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,169 in St Brelade. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or St Brelade?
Groceries cost about 72% more in St Brelade, 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or St Brelade?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in St Brelade at $3,844. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in St Brelade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or St Brelade?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,844 in St Brelade. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to St Brelade?
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 St Brelade?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St Brelade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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