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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Johor Bahru vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,826 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Johor Bahru costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Johor Bahru and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Johor Bahru 30% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.56

$1.98 ฿64.3

81.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 MYR 76.1

$18.80 ฿612

-0.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.02

$7.75 ฿252

-39.48%

Cappuccino

$3.02 MYR 12.23

$1.92 ฿62.5

57.29%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.22

$0.79 ฿25.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.36 ฿11.62

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 MYR 14.78

$2.21 ฿72.1

64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.63 MYR 26.90

$3.66 ฿119

81.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.37

$1.65 ฿53.8

10.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.76

$1.63 ฿53.2

-42.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.25

$1.19 ฿38.86

8.40%

Eggs

$1.87 MYR 7.59

$2.00 ฿65.1

-6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.72 MYR 43.49

$15.98 ฿520

-32.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 MYR 14.17

$3.03 ฿98.5

15.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 MYR 33.29

$10.86 ฿354

-24.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.21

$2.76 ฿90.0

0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.00

$1.18 ฿38.42

25.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 MYR 10.04

$1.64 ฿53.5

51.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.10

$1.52 ฿49.51

-17.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.61

$1.38 ฿45.10

-17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.38

$1.19 ฿38.84

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.82

$0.70 ฿22.86

34.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.30

$0.56 ฿18.13

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 16.98

$4.58 ฿149

-8.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.08 MYR 57.1

$16.56 ฿539

-14.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.72

$1.83 ฿59.5

44.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 MYR 11.90

$3.20 ฿104

-8.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.88 ฿28.56

-15.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.67 MYR 47.34

$18.72 ฿610

-37.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.13

$1.36 ฿44.16

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.03

$1.34 ฿43.65

-26.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.41 MYR 38.15

$7.84 ฿256

20.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.85

$1.23 ฿39.92

-62.60%

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

$35.8K MYR 145.2K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

65.61%

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

$27.4K MYR 111.1K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

21.50%

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

$41.08 MYR 167

$70.5 ฿2,298

-41.76%

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

$9.14 MYR 37.06

$13.68 ฿445

-33.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.22 MYR 123

$17.45 ฿568

73.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.97 MYR 142

$41.33 ฿1,346

-15.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 MYR 24.37

$6.96 ฿227

-13.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 20.42

$5.77 ฿188

-12.65%

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

$184 MYR 746

$307 ฿10.0K

-40.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,934 MYR 28.1K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-52.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.20 MYR 200

$55.8 ฿1,817

-11.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.06 MYR 77.3

$26.21 ฿854

-27.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.1 MYR 219

$85.8 ฿2,793

-36.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.69 MYR 165

$72.2 ฿2,353

-43.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$469 MYR 1,901

$430 ฿14.0K

9.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 MYR 1,611

$239 ฿7,774

66.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 MYR 3,311

$817 ฿26.6K

-0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 MYR 2,478

$511 ฿16.6K

19.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,079 MYR 8,432

$1,983 ฿64.6K

4.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,163 MYR 4,714

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-21.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,108 MYR 4,492

$619 ฿20.2K

79.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

-18.60%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $469 in Johor Bahru versus $430 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 79% higher in Johor Bahru, 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 $19.00 in Johor Bahru versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $241 – making Johor Bahru 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

Johor Bahru vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Johor Bahru costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Johor Bahru and $1,303 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.

Kindergarten costs $184 per month in Johor Bahru and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Johor Bahru – 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 $869, than in Johor Bahru at $943. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johor Bahru it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $943 in Johor Bahru. 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, Johor Bahru makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.