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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,188 in St John, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,824 in St John, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,459 in St John, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 73% cheaper than St John, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while St John is 137% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$17.45 $17.45

-88.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$160 $160

-88.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$8.42 $8.42

-7.96%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$6.46 $6.46

-70.28%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$2.95 $2.95

-73.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$2.04 $2.04

-82.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$6.68 $6.68

-66.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$6.83 $6.83

-46.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$2.76 $2.76

-40.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$5.68 $5.68

-71.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$1.52 $1.52

-21.71%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$6.45 $6.45

-68.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$17.39 $17.39

-8.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$26.35 $26.35

-88.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$5.15 $5.15

-77.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$8.71 $8.71

-82.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$4.31 $4.31

-72.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$5.11 $5.11

-86.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$6.18 $6.18

-48.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

$5.93 $5.93

-85.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

$142 $142

-86.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$3.02 $3.02

-55.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.55 $1.55

-20.65%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$22.5K $22.5K

0.39%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$243 $243

-70.99%

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

$13.68 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$59.3 $59.3

-70.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

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

$307 ฿10.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$13.3K $13.3K

10.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$102 $102

-45.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$61.0 $61.0

-57.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$50.2 $50.2

70.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$49.78 $49.78

45.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$2,196 $2,196

-80.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$1,785 $1,785

-86.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$2,996 $2,996

-82.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

$13.0K $13.0K

-84.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$4,061 $4,061

-84.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

-29.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for St John: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $2,196 in St John. 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 556% higher in St John, 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 $160 in St John. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $416 – 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 John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St John costs about 267% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,782 in St John. 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.

Public transport costs about 659% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 73% more in St John, 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 $869, than in St John at $3,188. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in St John it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $3,188 in St John. 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, St John makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.