🙂A single person spends $835 per month in Jal el Dib vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,324 per month in Jal el Dib vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,813 per month in Jal el Dib vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Jal el Dib is about 2% 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
$10.70LBP 957.3K
$2.04฿68.2
424.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.69LBP 3.6M
$18.71฿624
112.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.19LBP 733.0K
$7.86฿262
4.20%
Cappuccino
$1.96LBP 175.3K
$2.03฿67.7
-3.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03LBP 91.8K
$0.80฿26.64
28.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87LBP 78.1K
$0.35฿11.68
148.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.41LBP 305.6K
$2.14฿71.5
59.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11LBP 457.1K
$3.67฿122
39.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72LBP 154.0K
$1.73฿57.6
-0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84LBP 75.4K
$1.57฿52.4
-46.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75LBP 156.6K
$1.20฿39.99
45.83%
Eggs
$2.39LBP 213.8K
$1.97฿65.8
21.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.17LBP 999.6K
$16.23฿541
-31.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.57LBP 856.9K
$3.06฿102
212.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.84LBP 880.9K
$10.80฿360
-8.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01LBP 90.7K
$2.77฿92.3
-63.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52LBP 135.7K
$1.17฿38.94
29.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99LBP 88.4K
$1.71฿57.0
-42.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77LBP 68.9K
$1.59฿53.2
-51.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68LBP 60.5K
$1.39฿46.51
-51.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48LBP 42.7K
$1.16฿38.56
-58.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51LBP 45.8K
$0.66฿22.05
-22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31LBP 28.1K
$0.52฿17.31
-40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45LBP 219.7K
$4.65฿155
-47.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.08LBP 902.0K
$17.78฿593
-43.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12LBP 100.5K
$1.79฿59.6
-37.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46LBP 131.0K
$3.34฿111
-56.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.47LBP 131.3K
$0.91฿30.27
61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.8LBP 4.7M
$18.64฿622
183.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.86LBP 435.4K
$1.41฿47.04
244.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28LBP 114.6K
$1.34฿44.70
-4.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.76LBP 1.8M
$8.11฿270
143.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83LBP 74.7K
$1.23฿41.16
-32.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3KLBP 3.1B
$21.4K฿715.1K
60.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KLBP 2.5B
$21.8K฿728.0K
28.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141LBP 12.6M
$71.3฿2,379
97.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.15LBP 3.3M
$14.01฿467
165.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.75LBP 3.4M
$17.93฿598
110.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.06LBP 1.8M
$40.82฿1,362
-50.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.01LBP 448.7K
$5.72฿191
-12.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$200LBP 17.9M
$308฿10.3K
-35.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,506LBP 134.8M
$14.7K฿489.7K
-89.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6LBP 6.3M
$55.8฿1,860
26.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.77LBP 4.1M
$26.04฿869
75.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124LBP 11.1M
$84.8฿2,829
46.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.7LBP 8.5M
$71.0฿2,368
33.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$423฿14.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$242฿8,088
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$797฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$507฿16.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jal el Dib
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 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 – $213 in Jal el Dib vs $244 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 2% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,252 per month in Jal el Dib and $1,279 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $200 per month in Jal el Dib and $308 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 15% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $835 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 $835 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 to 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