😐A single person spends $1,465 per month in Johvi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,203 per month in Johvi vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,941 per month in Johvi vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Johvi costs about 72% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Johvi sits 9% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.27€13.89
$1.96฿63.6
730.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.3€73.7
$18.81฿611
358.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.49€9.82
$7.92฿258
45.08%
Cappuccino
$4.23€3.61
$1.91฿62.2
121.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94€2.51
$0.84฿27.25
250.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56€2.18
$0.35฿11.44
631.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.28€5.36
$2.21฿71.7
184.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.63€5.66
$3.80฿124
74.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.07
$1.64฿53.2
-23.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49€1.27
$1.62฿52.8
-8.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.98€2.54
$1.18฿38.40
152.54%
Eggs
$2.97€2.54
$2.01฿65.4
47.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.35
$15.89฿517
-16.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€8.02
$3.01฿98.0
211.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.91€19.56
$10.77฿350
112.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23€1.90
$2.61฿85.0
-14.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55€1.32
$1.22฿39.65
27.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.27
$1.70฿55.4
55.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67€3.13
$1.58฿51.2
132.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36€1.17
$1.32฿42.89
3.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97€0.83
$1.17฿38.01
-17.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03€1.73
$0.67฿21.85
202.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$0.56฿18.21
101.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53€5.57
$4.53฿147
44.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.49€9.81
$18.20฿592
-36.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.71
$1.83฿59.6
9.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.21
$3.23฿105
-19.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18€1.00
$0.89฿28.83
32.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.21€3.60
$1.35฿43.95
211.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79€0.68
$1.35฿43.79
-41.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.53€14.97
$8.25฿268
112.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96€1.67
$1.27฿41.40
54.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K€27.7K
$21.2K฿687.8K
53.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K€28.5K
$22.5K฿731.0K
48.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$349€298
$70.2฿2,281
398.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.71€17.69
$13.77฿448
50.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.36€31.05
$17.60฿572
106.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.53€20.09
$41.57฿1,352
-43.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.75€11.74
$5.78฿188
137.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263€224
$306฿9,953
-14.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,870€6,721
$14.8K฿482.0K
-46.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115€98.2
$54.4฿1,768
111.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.05€39.32
$26.14฿850
76.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107€91.2
$84.5฿2,748
26.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€119
$69.4฿2,257
100.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$413€353
$424฿13.8K
-2.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234€200
$238฿7,743
-1.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$462€395
$825฿26.8K
-43.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291€248
$515฿16.7K
-43.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johvi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,389€1,186
$635฿20.6K
118.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.1
5
2.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Johvi: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $413 in Johvi versus $424 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 119% higher in Johvi, 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 $86.0 in Johvi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $243 – 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
Johvi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Johvi or Chiang Mai?
Johvi costs about 72% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Johvi vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,197 per month in Johvi and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Johvi or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Johvi vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Johvi and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Johvi or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Johvi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Johvi or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Johvi at $1,465. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johvi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Johvi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,465 in Johvi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Johvi compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Johvi or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johvi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.