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

😐 Solo nomad: Johannesburg is 24.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 33.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Johannesburg is 26.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 30.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.4 R 203
$2.02 ฿65.3
464.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.89 R 798
$18.78 ฿608
139.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 R 88.7
$7.67 ฿248
-35.07%
Cappuccino
$2.18 R 38.8
$1.98 ฿64.2
10.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 R 18.45
$0.82 ฿26.64
26.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.39
$0.33 ฿10.58
127.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.7 R 48.05
$2.12 ฿68.6
27.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 R 45.29
$3.73 ฿121
-31.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 R 21.39
$1.64 ฿53.2
-26.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.1 R 19.5
$1.57 ฿50.9
-29.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 R 30.51
$1.19 ฿38.62
44.54%
Eggs
$2.47 R 43.92
$1.98 ฿64.1
24.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.04 R 143
$15.99 ฿517
-49.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.91 R 87.4
$3.12 ฿101
57.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.75 R 120
$11.16 ฿361
-39.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 R 30.11
$2.76 ฿89.2
-38.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 R 27.16
$1.22 ฿39.5
25.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 R 26.22
$1.71 ฿55.4
-14.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.14
$1.55 ฿50.2
1.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 R 25.8
$1.34 ฿43.21
8.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 R 24.78
$1.21 ฿39.23
14.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 R 18.64
$0.72 ฿23.2
45.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 R 16.87
$0.53 ฿17.05
79.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 R 54.1
$4.72 ฿153
-35.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.99 R 107
$18.39 ฿595
-67.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.79 ฿57.9
-26.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 R 29.74
$3.21 ฿104
-47.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.7 R 30.26
$0.94 ฿30.44
80.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.1 R 1,265
$18.9 ฿612
276.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.48
$1.42 ฿46.08
-22.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 R 16.73
$1.35 ฿43.53
-30.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.1 R 72.9
$7.85 ฿254
-47.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 R 21.58
$1.25 ฿40.4
-3.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K R 396.4K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
5.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K R 433.4K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
11.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 R 2,069
$70.6 ฿2,285
64.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.29 R 717
$13.72 ฿444
193.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.05 R 748
$17.56 ฿568
139.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.62 R 616
$41.64 ฿1,347
-16.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.93 R 248
$6.9 ฿223
101.88%
Cinema Ticket
$7.23 R 129
$5.8 ฿188
24.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$206 R 3,665
$308 ฿9,963
-33.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,981 R 88.6K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-66.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 R 899
$55.4 ฿1,793
-8.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.58 R 597
$26.4 ฿854
27.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.2 R 1,621
$85.1 ฿2,755
7.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 R 1,397
$71.8 ฿2,323
9.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$423 R 7,519
$434 ฿14K
-2.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 R 6,592
$235 ฿7,610
57.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 R 16K
$821 ฿26.6K
9.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 R 12.3K
$498 ฿16.1K
38.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 R 19.8K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-49.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$748 R 13.3K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-51.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johannesburg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 R 28.2K
$703 ฿22.8K
125.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.51
5
130.20%

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

Last update for Johannesburg: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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