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 5.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Johor Bahru is 16.7% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 4.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62 MYR 15.28
$2.02 ฿65.3
79.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.97 MYR 80
$18.78 ฿608
1.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 MYR 20
$7.67 ฿248
-38.20%
Cappuccino
$2.99 MYR 12.62
$1.98 ฿64.2
51.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.8 MYR 3.38
$0.82 ฿26.64
-2.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MYR 2.04
$0.33 ฿10.58
45.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MYR 14.64
$2.12 ฿68.6
63.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68 MYR 28.17
$3.73 ฿121
79.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 MYR 7.86
$1.64 ฿53.2
13.41%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 MYR 3.91
$1.57 ฿50.9
-40.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 5.22
$1.19 ฿38.62
4.20%
Eggs
$1.81 MYR 7.64
$1.98 ฿64.1
-8.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.66 MYR 44.96
$15.99 ฿517
-33.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.4 MYR 14.33
$3.12 ฿101
8.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.2 MYR 34.57
$11.16 ฿361
-26.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 MYR 11.24
$2.76 ฿89.2
-3.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 6.11
$1.22 ฿39.5
18.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 MYR 10.83
$1.71 ฿55.4
50.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.22 MYR 5.14
$1.55 ฿50.2
-21.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 MYR 5.01
$1.34 ฿43.21
-11.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 MYR 5.62
$1.21 ฿39.23
9.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.9 MYR 3.81
$0.72 ฿23.2
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 MYR 2.34
$0.53 ฿17.05
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11 MYR 17.32
$4.72 ฿153
-12.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 MYR 59.8
$18.39 ฿595
-22.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 MYR 11.37
$1.79 ฿57.9
50.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 MYR 12.22
$3.21 ฿104
-9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.7 MYR 2.95
$0.94 ฿30.44
-25.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.92 MYR 50.3
$18.9 ฿612
-36.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 MYR 4.28
$1.42 ฿46.08
-28.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 MYR 4.34
$1.35 ฿43.53
-23.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.07 MYR 38.25
$7.85 ฿254
15.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.5 MYR 2.11
$1.25 ฿40.4
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K MYR 149.3K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
67.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K MYR 115.6K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
25.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.76 MYR 172
$70.6 ฿2,285
-42.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96 MYR 37.77
$13.72 ฿444
-34.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.37 MYR 132
$17.56 ฿568
78.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.46 MYR 150
$41.64 ฿1,347
-14.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.72 MYR 24.11
$6.9 ฿223
-17.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MYR 20.63
$5.8 ฿188
-15.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$189 MYR 797
$308 ฿9,963
-38.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,908 MYR 29.1K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-53.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.24 MYR 208
$55.4 ฿1,793
-11.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.75 MYR 79.1
$26.4 ฿854
-28.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.9 MYR 231
$85.1 ฿2,755
-35.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.31 MYR 170
$71.8 ฿2,323
-43.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 MYR 1,991
$434 ฿14K
8.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 MYR 1,687
$235 ฿7,610
70.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 MYR 3,563
$821 ฿26.6K
2.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$599 MYR 2,528
$498 ฿16.1K
20.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,824 MYR 7,692
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-16.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,292 MYR 5,447
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-16.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johor Bahru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,008 MYR 4,252
$703 ฿22.8K
43.33%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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