🙂A single person spends $858 per month in Jal el Dib vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,359 per month in Jal el Dib vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,859 per month in Jal el Dib vs $1,855 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 Dib36% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00LBP 984.5K
$1.98฿64.3
455.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.77LBP 3.6M
$18.80฿612
116.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.83LBP 700.6K
$7.75฿252
1.03%
Cappuccino
$2.04LBP 182.4K
$1.92฿62.5
6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02LBP 90.9K
$0.79฿25.79
29.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87LBP 77.9K
$0.36฿11.62
141.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53LBP 316.0K
$2.21฿72.1
59.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12LBP 458.7K
$3.66฿119
39.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71LBP 153.4K
$1.65฿53.8
3.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85LBP 76.3K
$1.63฿53.2
-47.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75LBP 156.2K
$1.19฿38.86
47.06%
Eggs
$2.41LBP 215.9K
$2.00฿65.1
20.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.15LBP 998.3K
$15.98฿520
-30.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.55LBP 855.1K
$3.03฿98.5
215.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.20LBP 912.8K
$10.86฿354
-6.08%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02LBP 91.6K
$2.76฿90.0
-63.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53LBP 137.0K
$1.18฿38.42
29.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03LBP 92.1K
$1.64฿53.5
-37.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.83LBP 74.2K
$1.52฿49.51
-45.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69LBP 61.6K
$1.38฿45.10
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51LBP 45.9K
$1.19฿38.84
-57.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52LBP 46.2K
$0.70฿22.86
-25.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31LBP 27.9K
$0.56฿18.13
-44.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44LBP 218.3K
$4.58฿149
-46.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.16LBP 909.3K
$16.56฿539
-38.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15LBP 103.0K
$1.83฿59.5
-37.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52LBP 136.0K
$3.20฿104
-52.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.52LBP 136.5K
$0.88฿28.56
72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.3LBP 4.6M
$18.72฿610
173.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.02LBP 449.7K
$1.36฿44.16
269.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27LBP 113.3K
$1.34฿43.65
-5.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.07LBP 1.8M
$7.84฿256
155.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76LBP 68.4K
$1.23฿39.92
-38.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KLBP 3.2B
$21.6K฿704.3K
63.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KLBP 2.5B
$22.5K฿734.3K
22.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140LBP 12.5M
$70.5฿2,298
98.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.28LBP 3.4M
$13.68฿445
179.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.67LBP 3.3M
$17.45฿568
110.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.12LBP 1.8M
$41.33฿1,346
-51.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93LBP 441.6K
$5.77฿188
-14.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197LBP 17.6M
$307฿10.0K
-35.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,519LBP 136.0M
$14.6K฿475.9K
-89.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7LBP 6.3M
$55.8฿1,817
26.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.61LBP 4.0M
$26.21฿854
70.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124LBP 11.1M
$85.8฿2,793
44.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.9LBP 8.3M
$72.2฿2,353
28.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Jal el Dib versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Jal el Dib vs $241 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 $1,287 per month in Jal el Dib and $1,303 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 $197 per month in Jal el Dib 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 Jal el Dib or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 12% 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 $858 in Jal el Dib and $869 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 $858 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 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