Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Johor Bahru is 5.7% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Johor Bahru is 5.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 1.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.50 MYR 13.79
$2.03 ฿64.6
72.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.14 MYR 75.4
$18.59 ฿593
2.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 MYR 18.62
$7.48 ฿238
-36.76%
Cappuccino
$3.02 MYR 11.90
$2.00 ฿63.7
51.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MYR 3.08
$0.85 ฿27.01
-8.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MYR 1.90
$0.35 ฿11.21
37.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.50 MYR 13.79
$2.21 ฿70.5
58.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75 MYR 26.61
$3.76 ฿120
79.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.35
$1.72 ฿54.8
8.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 MYR 3.76
$1.63 ฿52.1
-41.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 MYR 5.12
$1.16 ฿36.93
12.07%
Eggs
$1.84 MYR 7.25
$1.98 ฿63.1
-7.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.48 MYR 41.31
$15.93 ฿508
-34.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 MYR 13.42
$3.17 ฿101
7.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 MYR 31.60
$10.90 ฿348
-26.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MYR 10.97
$2.65 ฿84.3
4.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 MYR 6.00
$1.22 ฿38.98
24.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 MYR 9.74
$1.70 ฿54.1
45.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.90
$1.59 ฿50.7
-22.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 MYR 4.66
$1.32 ฿42.21
-10.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 MYR 5.51
$1.17 ฿37.25
19.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 MYR 3.77
$0.68 ฿21.61
41.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 MYR 2.02
$0.56 ฿17.76
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 MYR 16.47
$4.51 ฿144
-7.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.68 MYR 57.9
$19.07 ฿608
-23.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 MYR 10.48
$1.77 ฿56.4
50.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 MYR 11.93
$3.18 ฿101
-4.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MYR 2.84
$0.96 ฿30.70
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 MYR 46.10
$18.90 ฿602
-38.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 MYR 3.87
$1.36 ฿43.29
-27.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 MYR 4.06
$1.35 ฿43.11
-23.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.31 MYR 36.68
$8.03 ฿256
15.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.80
$1.24 ฿39.62
-62.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MYR 140.0K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
67.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K MYR 111.4K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
30.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.48 MYR 163
$71.2 ฿2,271
-41.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.13 MYR 35.98
$14.09 ฿449
-35.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95 MYR 122
$17.47 ฿557
77.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.11 MYR 138
$42.07 ฿1,341
-16.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05 MYR 23.84
$6.88 ฿219
-12.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08 MYR 20.03
$5.94 ฿189
-14.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 MYR 738
$307 ฿9,799
-39.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,960 MYR 27.4K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
-52.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.99 MYR 197
$55.7 ฿1,775
-10.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.17 MYR 75.6
$26.79 ฿854
-28.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.3 MYR 214
$83.2 ฿2,653
-34.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.45 MYR 155
$70.1 ฿2,235
-43.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 MYR 1,844
$427 ฿13.6K
9.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$404 MYR 1,592
$237 ฿7,559
70.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 MYR 3,259
$802 ฿25.6K
3.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 MYR 2,389
$503 ฿16.0K
20.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,142 MYR 8,438
$2,061 ฿65.7K
3.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,192 MYR 4,697
$1,533 ฿48.9K
-22.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,153 MYR 4,541
$654 ฿20.8K
76.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.07
5
-18.60%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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