ðA single person spends $2,584 per month in Jamestown, ND vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $3,719 per month in Jamestown, ND vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $4,854 per month in Jamestown, ND vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðJamestown, ND costs about 206% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðJamestown, ND sits 93% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.26$19.26
$1.95āļŋ62.8
887.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4$75.4
$18.43āļŋ594
309.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.12$11.12
$7.50āļŋ241
48.27%
Cappuccino
$4.96$4.96
$1.93āļŋ62.3
156.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$0.78āļŋ25.08
216.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$0.32āļŋ10.42
521.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91$5.91
$2.15āļŋ69.2
174.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81$6.81
$3.71āļŋ120
83.56%
ð Groceries & Markets
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.71āļŋ55.2
-50.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57$3.57
$1.56āļŋ50.3
128.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.48$4.48
$1.18āļŋ38.06
279.66%
Eggs
$4.11$4.11
$1.98āļŋ63.9
107.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.50$12.50
$16.04āļŋ517
-22.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.37$11.37
$3.17āļŋ102
258.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.72$15.72
$10.94āļŋ353
43.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.82$4.82
$2.63āļŋ84.7
83.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.17āļŋ37.61
39.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.22$4.22
$1.65āļŋ53.0
155.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.73$4.73
$1.54āļŋ49.51
207.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$1.38āļŋ44.34
102.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$1.17āļŋ37.54
148.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$0.66āļŋ21.25
209.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$0.51āļŋ16.55
309.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81$9.81
$4.52āļŋ146
117.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47$13.47
$18.32āļŋ590
-26.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$1.80āļŋ57.9
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31$3.31
$3.18āļŋ102
4.09%
ð Getting Around
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$0.90āļŋ28.97
118.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.00āļŋ612
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59$3.59
$1.41āļŋ45.50
154.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63$1.63
$1.31āļŋ42.15
24.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.61$28.61
$8.09āļŋ261
253.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.28āļŋ41.08
-33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K$30.1K
$21.3Kāļŋ686.1K
41.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$21.7Kāļŋ699.3K
17.13%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188$188
$69.2āļŋ2,230
171.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.2$52.2
$13.97āļŋ450
273.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8$66.8
$17.95āļŋ578
271.87%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.68$43.68
$42.31āļŋ1,363
3.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66āļŋ214
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.37$13.37
$5.92āļŋ191
125.84%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,274$1,274
$299āļŋ9,640
325.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$14.8Kāļŋ478.4K
56.63%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4$50.4
$56.2āļŋ1,810
-10.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55$40.55
$26.94āļŋ868
50.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2$85.2
$84.9āļŋ2,735
0.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$71.8āļŋ2,314
56.86%
ð Accommodation & Living
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,625$1,625
$435āļŋ14.0K
273.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,348$1,348
$240āļŋ7,727
461.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,594$2,594
$798āļŋ25.7K
225.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,186$2,186
$498āļŋ16.1K
338.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,934$2,934
$1,995āļŋ64.3K
47.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,114$2,114
$1,532āļŋ49.4K
38.01%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Jamestown, ND
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,063$3,063
$628āļŋ20.2K
387.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jamestown, ND: April 19, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in Jamestown, ND versus $435 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.
ð°Salaries run about 388% higher in Jamestown, ND, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Jamestown, ND versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $244 â 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
Jamestown, ND vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jamestown, ND or Chiang Mai?
Jamestown, ND costs about 206% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jamestown, ND vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,876 per month in Jamestown, ND and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jamestown, ND or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Jamestown, ND vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Jamestown, ND and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jamestown, ND or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Jamestown, ND, 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 Jamestown, ND or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Jamestown, ND at $2,584. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jamestown, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jamestown, ND or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $2,584 in Jamestown, ND. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jamestown, ND 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Jamestown, ND or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jamestown, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Jamestown, ND vs other spots: cost of living compared