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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $801 per month in Jacareรญ vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,295 per month in Jacareรญ vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,789 per month in Jacareรญ vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jacareรญ is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jacareรญ and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median โ€“ Jacareรญ 40% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.25 R$31.62
$1.98 เธฟ64.3
215.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.01 R$162
$18.80 เธฟ612
70.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.67 R$33.75
$7.75 เธฟ252
-13.94%
Cappuccino
$1.73 R$8.74
$1.92 เธฟ62.5
-9.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 R$6.98
$0.79 เธฟ25.79
74.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 R$4.15
$0.36 เธฟ11.62
127.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 R$8.95
$2.21 เธฟ72.1
-19.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 R$13.74
$3.66 เธฟ119
-25.96%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 R$5.71
$1.65 เธฟ53.8
-31.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 R$7.74
$1.63 เธฟ53.2
-6.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.03
$1.19 เธฟ38.86
-
Eggs
$2.38 R$12.05
$2.00 เธฟ65.1
19.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.02 R$40.59
$15.98 เธฟ520
-49.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.76 R$19.04
$3.03 เธฟ98.5
24.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 R$43.73
$10.86 เธฟ354
-20.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 R$10.66
$2.76 เธฟ90.0
-23.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.10
$1.18 เธฟ38.42
52.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 R$6.96
$1.64 เธฟ53.5
-16.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 R$8.07
$1.52 เธฟ49.51
4.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.30
$1.38 เธฟ45.10
-10.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 R$5.68
$1.19 เธฟ38.84
-5.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 R$3.72
$0.70 เธฟ22.86
5.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 R$3.29
$0.56 เธฟ18.13
16.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78 R$9.00
$4.58 เธฟ149
-61.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.64 R$38.67
$16.56 เธฟ539
-53.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 R$6.94
$1.83 เธฟ59.5
-25.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 R$10.14
$3.20 เธฟ104
-37.50%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 R$4.39
$0.88 เธฟ28.56
-1.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.90 R$197
$18.72 เธฟ610
107.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 R$4.71
$1.36 เธฟ44.16
-31.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 R$2.96
$1.34 เธฟ43.65
-55.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.67 R$38.84
$7.84 เธฟ256
-2.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 R$5.07
$1.23 เธฟ39.92
-18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K R$114.1K
$21.6K เธฟ704.3K
4.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K R$144.5K
$22.5K เธฟ734.3K
26.58%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.93 R$243
$70.5 เธฟ2,298
-32.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.99 R$75.9
$13.68 เธฟ445
9.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.96 R$111
$17.45 เธฟ568
25.85%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.38 R$113
$41.33 เธฟ1,346
-45.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.44 R$109
$6.96 เธฟ227
208.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.52 R$27.95
$5.77 เธฟ188
-4.33%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 R$1,564
$307 เธฟ10.0K
0.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,760 R$34.2K
$14.6K เธฟ475.9K
-53.73%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 R$277
$55.8 เธฟ1,817
-1.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9 R$262
$26.21 เธฟ854
97.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 R$377
$85.8 เธฟ2,793
-13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.5 R$362
$72.2 เธฟ2,353
-1.02%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$318 R$1,612
$430 เธฟ14.0K
-25.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$220 R$1,115
$239 เธฟ7,774
-7.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$592 R$2,998
$817 เธฟ26.6K
-27.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$431 R$2,181
$511 เธฟ16.6K
-15.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,593 R$8,063
$1,983 เธฟ64.6K
-19.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,155 R$5,849
$1,484 เธฟ48.3K
-22.14%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Jacareรญ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$619 เธฟ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
5
118.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jacareรญ: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $318 in Jacareรญ versus $430 in Chiang Mai. 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 $32.00 in Jacareรญ versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story โ€“ $187 in Jacareรญ vs $241 in Chiang Mai โ€“ so Jacareรญ 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
Jacareรญ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jacareรญ or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Jacareรญ, 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 Jacareรญ vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,201 per month in Jacareรญ and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jacareรญ or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jacareรญ, 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 Jacareรญ and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Jacareรญ and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jacareรญ or Chiang Mai?
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 $800/month in Jacareรญ or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably โ€“ all-in costs are $801 in Jacareรญ and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jacareรญ or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jacareรญ costs $801 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jacareรญ compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Jacareรญ or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Jacareรญ. 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.

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