😐A single person spends $1,719 per month in Jayuya vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,496 per month in Jayuya vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,272 per month in Jayuya vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Jayuya costs about 98% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Jayuya sits 28% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.77$16.77
$1.94฿63.5
764.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9$81.9
$18.64฿609
339.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.82$9.82
$7.82฿255
25.58%
Cappuccino
$3.26$3.26
$1.95฿63.8
67.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$0.85฿27.77
98.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
$0.35฿11.58
294.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05$3.05
$2.13฿69.6
43.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92$3.92
$3.73฿122
5.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.43$2.43
$1.71฿56.0
42.11%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46$3.46
$1.63฿53.2
112.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16$2.16
$1.14฿37.15
89.47%
Eggs
$5.76$5.76
$1.93฿63.1
198.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.94$8.94
$16.21฿530
-44.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.31$8.31
$3.12฿102
166.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.83$12.83
$10.90฿356
17.71%
Apples(1kg)
$6.05$6.05
$2.75฿90.0
120.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.21฿39.52
126.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88$3.88
$1.62฿53.0
139.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.15$4.15
$1.59฿51.8
161.01%
Potato(1kg)
$3.92$3.92
$1.40฿45.70
180.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.02$3.02
$1.17฿38.17
158.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.98$2.98
$0.66฿21.60
351.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.53฿17.22
266.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.33$11.33
$4.69฿153
141.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.15$15.15
$18.66฿609
-18.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44$2.44
$1.80฿58.8
35.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24$3.24
$3.23฿106
0.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41฿45.91
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46$1.46
$1.29฿42.12
13.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.22$15.22
$7.84฿256
94.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.27฿41.58
-20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K$35.7K
$21.3K฿694.9K
67.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K$27.1K
$22.2K฿725.4K
21.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$314$314
$69.1฿2,256
355.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.0$78.0
$14.08฿460
453.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.7$71.7
$18.00฿588
298.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.06฿1,341
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.69$11.69
$5.92฿193
97.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$466$466
$299฿9,766
55.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K$10.5K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-29.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.15$46.15
$54.7฿1,787
-15.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6$56.6
$26.77฿874
111.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.1$90.1
$85.0฿2,776
6.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$70.6฿2,306
50.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503$503
$428฿14.0K
17.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448$448
$237฿7,752
88.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,792$1,792
$801฿26.2K
123.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$558$558
$515฿16.8K
8.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$859$859
$1,975฿64.5K
-56.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$798$798
$1,475฿48.2K
-45.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayuya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,421$1,421
$617฿20.2K
130.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
5
14.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jayuya: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $503 in Jayuya versus $428 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 130% higher in Jayuya, 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 $82.0 in Jayuya versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $382 vs $246 – 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
Jayuya vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jayuya or Chiang Mai?
Jayuya costs about 98% 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 Jayuya vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,579 per month in Jayuya and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jayuya 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 Jayuya vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Jayuya and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jayuya or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Jayuya, 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 Jayuya or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Jayuya at $1,719. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jayuya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jayuya or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,719 in Jayuya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jayuya 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 Jayuya or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jayuya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.