🙂A single person spends $843 per month in Jal el Dib vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Jal el Dib vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Jal el Dib vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Jal el Dib is about 1% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Jal el Dib and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jal el Dib37% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80LBP 966.6K
$1.96฿63.6
451.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.07LBP 3.6M
$18.81฿611
113.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.19LBP 733.1K
$7.92฿258
3.41%
Cappuccino
$2.05LBP 183.5K
$1.91฿62.2
7.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02LBP 91.5K
$0.84฿27.25
21.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93LBP 83.2K
$0.35฿11.44
165.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48LBP 311.5K
$2.21฿71.7
57.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13LBP 459.2K
$3.80฿124
35.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77LBP 158.6K
$1.64฿53.2
7.93%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85LBP 75.7K
$1.62฿52.8
-47.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75LBP 156.7K
$1.18฿38.40
48.31%
Eggs
$2.43LBP 217.1K
$2.01฿65.4
20.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.39LBP 1.0M
$15.89฿517
-28.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23LBP 825.7K
$3.01฿98.0
206.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.84LBP 880.7K
$10.77฿350
-8.64%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98LBP 87.5K
$2.61฿85.0
-62.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51LBP 134.8K
$1.22฿39.65
23.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02LBP 91.2K
$1.70฿55.4
-40.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77LBP 68.9K
$1.58฿51.2
-51.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72LBP 64.6K
$1.32฿42.89
-45.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51LBP 45.9K
$1.17฿38.01
-56.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48LBP 42.6K
$0.67฿21.85
-28.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29LBP 25.7K
$0.56฿18.21
-48.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44LBP 218.1K
$4.53฿147
-46.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.85LBP 970.7K
$18.20฿592
-40.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16LBP 103.4K
$1.83฿59.6
-36.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53LBP 137.2K
$3.23฿105
-52.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54LBP 137.7K
$0.89฿28.83
73.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.1LBP 4.7M
$19.38฿630
168.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.99LBP 446.5K
$1.35฿43.95
269.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22LBP 109.3K
$1.35฿43.79
-9.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.97LBP 1.8M
$8.25฿268
142.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83LBP 74.5K
$1.27฿41.40
-34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KLBP 3.1B
$21.2K฿687.8K
63.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KLBP 2.5B
$22.5K฿731.0K
25.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139LBP 12.4M
$70.2฿2,281
97.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.99LBP 3.4M
$13.77฿448
175.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.92LBP 3.3M
$17.60฿572
109.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.77LBP 1.8M
$41.57฿1,352
-52.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92LBP 440.1K
$5.78฿188
-14.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202LBP 18.1M
$306฿9,953
-33.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,500LBP 134.2M
$14.8K฿482.0K
-89.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6LBP 6.3M
$54.4฿1,768
29.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.27LBP 4.1M
$26.14฿850
73.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120LBP 10.8M
$84.5฿2,748
42.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6LBP 8.5M
$69.4฿2,257
36.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$238฿7,743
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$825฿26.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
5
123.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jal el Dib: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Jal el Dib versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $214 in Jal el Dib vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Jal el Dib 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
Jal el Dib vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jal el Dib or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Jal el Dib, 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 Jal el Dib vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,265 per month in Jal el Dib and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do childcare costs compare in Jal el Dib and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Jal el Dib and $306 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 Jal el Dib or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 14% 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 $1,000/month in Jal el Dib or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $843 in Jal el Dib and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jal el Dib or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jal el Dib costs $843 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jal el Dib 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Jal el Dib or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Jal el Dib. 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.
Jal el Dib vs other spots: cost of living compared