🙂A single person spends $652 per month in Jambi vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,017 per month in Jambi vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,381 per month in Jambi vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Jambi is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Jambi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jambi51% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 31.1K
$2.03฿68.4
-14.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.29Rp 328.1K
$18.71฿630
-2.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 61.6K
$7.84฿264
-56.12%
Cappuccino
$1.41Rp 25.2K
$1.93฿64.9
-26.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24Rp 22.3K
$0.83฿28.00
49.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21Rp 3,759
$0.35฿11.80
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39Rp 42.9K
$2.22฿74.8
7.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50Rp 44.8K
$3.79฿128
-34.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.1K
$1.65฿55.4
-29.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.3K
$1.55฿52.3
-27.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.8K
$1.18฿39.79
-25.42%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.5K
$2.01฿67.9
-20.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33Rp 149.3K
$16.16฿544
-48.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07Rp 55.0K
$3.03฿102
1.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98Rp 143.1K
$10.84฿365
-26.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32Rp 41.6K
$2.68฿90.3
-13.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$1.22฿41.14
23.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82Rp 32.6K
$1.63฿54.8
11.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.2K
$1.53฿51.5
2.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.34฿45.10
2.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.0K
$1.21฿40.86
56.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.4K
$0.70฿23.63
30.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,335
$0.53฿17.70
-22.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 45.8K
$4.69฿158
-45.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.18Rp 397.7K
$17.71฿597
25.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04Rp 36.6K
$1.85฿62.2
10.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11Rp 55.7K
$3.21฿108
-3.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,371
$0.89฿30.01
-66.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.80Rp 175.7K
$18.76฿632
-47.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,547
$1.41฿47.40
-62.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,134
$1.29฿43.52
-73.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.85Rp 51.1K
$7.79฿262
-63.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.7K
$1.29฿43.59
-41.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 436.9M
$21.8K฿733.4K
11.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KRp 496.8M
$21.7K฿730.7K
27.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1Rp 1.2M
$70.0฿2,358
-1.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.40Rp 78.9K
$14.19฿478
-68.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.34Rp 400.7K
$17.42฿587
28.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.79Rp 301.1K
$41.64฿1,403
-59.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.01Rp 107.9K
$6.89฿232
-12.77%
Cinema Ticket
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$5.78฿195
-51.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.1Rp 1.7M
$300฿10.1K
-68.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,592Rp 136.2M
$14.5K฿489.2K
-47.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.28Rp 758.2K
$55.4฿1,865
-23.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.14Rp 558.4K
$26.31฿886
18.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.3Rp 1.2M
$84.8฿2,858
-20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.8Rp 1.3M
$70.5฿2,375
4.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.6M
$425฿14.3K
-39.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.8M
$235฿7,919
-33.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588Rp 10.5M
$802฿27.0K
-26.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332Rp 6.0M
$516฿17.4K
-35.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,111Rp 19.9M
$1,926฿64.9K
-42.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$769Rp 13.8M
$1,451฿48.9K
-47.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jambi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$203Rp 3.6M
$586฿19.8K
-65.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
5
83.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jambi: July 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Jambi 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 189% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Jambi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $242 – making Jambi 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
Jambi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jambi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Jambi, 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 Jambi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $978 per month in Jambi and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jambi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jambi, 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 Jambi and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $95.1 per month in Jambi and $300 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 Jambi 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 $1,200/month in Jambi or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $652 in Jambi and $847 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jambi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jambi costs $652 versus $847 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jambi 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 Jambi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Jambi. 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.