Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaco Beach and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaco Beach and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,344 per month in Jaco Beach vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,155 per month in Jaco Beach vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,967 per month in Jaco Beach vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jaco Beach costs about 59% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Jaco Beach sits 1% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.19 ₡3,242

$2.03 ฿68.6

254.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.16 ₡18.1K

$18.71 ฿633

114.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 ₡4,006

$7.84 ฿265

13.27%

Cappuccino

$3.86 ₡1,740

$1.93 ฿65.1

100.00%

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

$1.58 ₡711

$0.83 ฿28.10

90.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₡449

$0.35 ฿11.84

182.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 ₡1,322

$2.22 ฿75.1

31.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,304

$3.79 ฿128

-23.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡628

$1.65 ฿55.6

-15.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 ₡894

$1.55 ฿52.4

27.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡971

$1.18 ฿39.93

82.20%

Eggs

$2.43 ₡1,095

$2.01 ฿68.1

20.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 ₡4,527

$16.16 ฿546

-37.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 ₡3,745

$3.03 ฿102

173.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 ₡4,853

$10.84 ฿366

-0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,057

$2.68 ฿90.6

70.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡648

$1.22 ฿41.28

18.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 ₡1,936

$1.63 ฿55.0

163.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.11 ₡1,404

$1.53 ฿51.7

103.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 ₡608

$1.34 ฿45.26

0.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 ₡608

$1.21 ฿41.00

11.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₡411

$0.70 ฿23.72

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₡783

$0.53 ฿17.76

228.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 ₡2,406

$4.69 ฿158

13.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 ₡6,387

$17.71 ฿599

-20.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₡1,054

$1.85 ฿62.4

26.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡877

$3.21 ฿109

-39.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡457

$0.89 ฿30.12

13.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₡839

$1.41 ฿47.57

31.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡806

$1.29 ฿43.67

38.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 ₡3,474

$7.79 ฿263

-1.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡638

$1.29 ฿43.74

9.30%

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

$37.6K ₡17.0M

$21.8K ฿736.0K

72.81%

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

$32.8K ₡14.8M

$21.7K ฿733.4K

51.28%

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

$72.8 ₡32.8K

$70.0 ฿2,366

4.02%

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

$21.44 ₡9,672

$14.19 ฿480

51.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.10 ₡19.4K

$17.42 ฿589

147.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.12 ₡21.3K

$41.64 ฿1,408

13.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.97 ₡10.8K

$6.89 ฿233

247.90%

Cinema Ticket

$9.68 ₡4,364

$5.78 ฿195

67.47%

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

$446 ₡201.0K

$300 ฿10.1K

48.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,679 ₡3.0M

$14.5K ฿491.0K

-54.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 ₡28.2K

$55.4 ฿1,872

13.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 ₡22.8K

$26.31 ฿890

92.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡57.3K

$84.8 ฿2,868

49.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.2K

$70.5 ฿2,383

51.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 ₡248.7K

$425 ฿14.4K

29.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₡227.0K

$235 ฿7,947

114.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 ₡838.6K

$802 ฿27.1K

131.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₡459.0K

$516 ฿17.4K

97.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿49.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$396 ₡178.4K

$586 ฿19.8K

-32.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

103.40%

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

Last update for Jaco Beach: July 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $551 in Jaco Beach versus $425 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.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Jaco Beach versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $242 – 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

Jaco Beach vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jaco Beach costs about 59% 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 $2,015 per month in Jaco Beach and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. 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 $40.00 in Jaco Beach and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Jaco Beach, 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 Jaco Beach at $1,344. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jaco Beach it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,344 in Jaco Beach. 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, Jaco Beach makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.