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 $1,048 per month in Johor Bahru vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,050 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Johor Bahru costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Johor Bahru and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Johor Bahru 23% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 MYR 15.05

$2.08 ฿69.2

76.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.22 MYR 86.9

$19.61 ฿652

8.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$5.67 ฿189

-13.76%

Cappuccino

$2.93 MYR 12.01

$1.81 ฿60.0

61.88%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.44

$0.77 ฿25.55

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.35 ฿11.48

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 MYR 17.97

$2.21 ฿73.6

98.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.32 MYR 25.88

$3.79 ฿126

66.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.83

$2.05 ฿68.1

-18.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.51 ฿50.4

-26.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.86

$1.40 ฿46.51

2.14%

Eggs

$1.68 MYR 6.89

$2.26 ฿75.1

-25.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.49 MYR 75.7

$16.19 ฿538

14.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 19.13

$2.90 ฿96.3

61.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MYR 43.91

$9.42 ฿313

13.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MYR 13.48

$2.68 ฿89.1

22.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.21

$1.09 ฿36.23

61.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 MYR 15.34

$1.62 ฿53.8

131.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$1.46 ฿48.55

15.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 MYR 5.79

$1.28 ฿42.48

10.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.82

$1.06 ฿35.17

57.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.64

$0.72 ฿23.85

91.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.53 ฿17.49

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 MYR 17.32

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$14.40 MYR 58.9

$18.29 ฿608

-21.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 MYR 12.11

$1.63 ฿54.2

81.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 MYR 12.63

$2.90 ฿96.5

6.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.88 ฿29.20

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.16 MYR 49.79

$53.8 ฿1,788

-77.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 MYR 5.84

$1.17 ฿38.99

22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 3.09

$0.58 ฿19.22

29.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.99 MYR 40.88

$2.39 ฿79.3

317.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MYR 3.36

$1.45 ฿48.22

-43.45%

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

$42.6K MYR 174.3K

$21.0K ฿698.6K

102.63%

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

$35.7K MYR 146.2K

$26.4K ฿878.6K

35.15%

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

$53.6 MYR 219

$63.7 ฿2,116

-15.85%

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

$11.39 MYR 46.60

$12.89 ฿429

-11.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.27 MYR 116

$20.52 ฿682

37.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.40 MYR 165

$39.02 ฿1,297

3.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 23.72

$3.92 ฿130

47.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MYR 19.61

$6.58 ฿219

-27.20%

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

$161 MYR 658

$784 ฿26.1K

-79.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,523 MYR 18.5K

$14.7K ฿487.9K

-69.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 MYR 220

$55.1 ฿1,833

-2.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.30 MYR 66.7

$24.74 ฿823

-34.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 MYR 340

$94.1 ฿3,130

-11.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 MYR 401

$74.0 ฿2,459

32.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 MYR 2,108

$490 ฿16.3K

5.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 MYR 1,625

$288 ฿9,582

37.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 MYR 3,702

$891 ฿29.6K

1.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,615

$521 ฿17.3K

22.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,058 MYR 8,423

$1,974 ฿65.6K

4.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,177 MYR 4,818

$1,444 ฿48.0K

-18.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,090 MYR 4,460

$602 ฿20.0K

81.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

5.57

-27.11%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Johor Bahru 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 81% 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 $21.00 in Johor Bahru versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai 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 12% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,572 per month in Johor Bahru 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.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Johor Bahru and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Johor Bahru, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Johor Bahru at $1,048. 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 $932 versus $1,048 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.