Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,089 per month in Jeju vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,883 per month in Jeju vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,677 per month in Jeju vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jeju costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jeju and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jeju 20% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 ₩10.2K

$2.08 ฿69.5

255.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₩71.3K

$19.61 ฿655

163.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 ₩7,521

$5.67 ฿189

-3.70%

Cappuccino

$5.72 ₩7,888

$1.81 ฿60.3

216.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₩3,007

$0.77 ฿25.65

183.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,635

$0.35 ฿11.53

445.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 ₩4,665

$2.21 ฿73.9

53.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₩4,199

$3.79 ฿127

-19.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,095

$2.05 ฿68.4

9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ₩3,107

$1.51 ฿50.6

49.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₩3,021

$1.40 ฿46.69

56.43%

Eggs

$2.66 ₩3,663

$2.26 ฿75.4

17.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ₩2,916

$1.09 ฿36.37

94.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,119

$1.28 ฿42.65

133.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ₩2,614

$1.06 ฿35.31

79.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 ₩3,016

$0.72 ฿23.94

204.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₩592

$0.53 ฿17.56

-18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ₩15.1K

$18.29 ฿611

-40.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,632

$1.63 ฿54.4

17.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,327

$2.90 ฿96.8

-41.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₩1,308

$0.88 ฿29.32

7.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₩1,754

$1.45 ฿48.41

-12.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿701.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿882.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$208 ₩286.5K

$63.7 ฿2,125

226.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.4 ₩74.9K

$12.89 ฿430

321.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩27.3K

$20.52 ฿685

-3.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K ₩33.9M

$14.7K ฿489.8K

67.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₩71.8K

$55.1 ฿1,840

-5.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.94 ₩41.3K

$24.74 ฿826

21.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₩89.6K

$94.1 ฿3,142

-30.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ₩125.1K

$74.0 ฿2,469

22.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₩642.7K

$490 ฿16.4K

-4.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 ₩516.8K

$288 ฿9,620

30.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 ₩1.8M

$891 ฿29.8K

49.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 ₩1.6M

$521 ฿17.4K

124.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K ₩14.1M

$1,974 ฿65.9K

420.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,750 ₩9.3M

$1,444 ฿48.2K

367.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 ₩2.6M

$602 ฿20.1K

208.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Jeju versus $490 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 208% higher in Jeju, 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 $52.0 in Jeju versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $139 in Jeju vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Jeju 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

Jeju vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju costs about 17% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,633 per month in Jeju and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,089 in Jeju and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 74% cheaper in Jeju – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Jeju at $1,089. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,089 in Jeju. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.