Cost of Living Comparison Between Joinville and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Joinville and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $792 per month in Joinville vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,278 per month in Joinville vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,764 per month in Joinville vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Joinville is about 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Joinville and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Joinville 41% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.14 R$35.71
$1.94 ฿63.5
268.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.11 R$181
$18.64 ฿609
93.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.42 R$32.15
$7.82 ฿255
-17.90%
Cappuccino
$1.40 R$6.99
$1.95 ฿63.8
-28.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 R$5.01
$0.85 ฿27.77
17.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 R$3.27
$0.35 ฿11.58
85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 R$13.69
$2.13 ฿69.6
28.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 R$12.40
$3.73 ฿122
-33.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 R$4.15
$1.71 ฿56.0
-51.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 R$6.35
$1.63 ฿53.2
-22.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 R$3.76
$1.14 ฿37.15
-34.21%
Eggs
$2.51 R$12.55
$1.93 ฿63.1
30.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.28 R$36.42
$16.21 ฿530
-55.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.02 R$15.13
$3.12 ฿102
-3.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.83 R$39.20
$10.90 ฿356
-28.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 R$6.54
$2.75 ฿90.0
-52.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.36
$1.21 ฿39.52
-11.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 R$5.74
$1.62 ฿53.0
-29.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.06
$1.59 ฿51.8
-11.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 R$5.64
$1.40 ฿45.70
-19.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 R$4.58
$1.17 ฿38.17
-22.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 R$5.11
$0.66 ฿21.60
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 R$3.58
$0.53 ฿17.22
35.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 R$14.05
$4.69 ฿153
-40.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.15 R$45.82
$18.66 ฿609
-50.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 R$4.95
$1.80 ฿58.8
-45.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 R$14.79
$3.23 ฿106
-8.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 R$4.73
$0.90 ฿29.26
4.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.4 R$252
$19.21 ฿628
162.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 R$9.18
$1.41 ฿45.91
29.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 R$5.02
$1.29 ฿42.12
-22.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.79 R$44.00
$7.84 ฿256
12.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 R$5.37
$1.27 ฿41.58
-15.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K R$121.2K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
13.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K R$142.1K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
27.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.3 R$267
$69.1 ฿2,256
-22.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.83 R$64.2
$14.08 ฿460
-8.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.31 R$102
$18.00 ฿588
12.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.53 R$113
$41.06 ฿1,341
-45.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.56 R$108
$6.96 ฿227
209.77%
Cinema Ticket
$7.83 R$39.17
$5.92 ฿193
32.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$274 R$1,369
$299 ฿9,766
-8.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,654 R$28.3K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-62.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.44 R$222
$54.7 ฿1,787
-18.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.0 R$360
$26.77 ฿874
169.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.1 R$411
$85.0 ฿2,776
-3.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.2 R$301
$70.6 ฿2,306
-14.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 R$1,393
$428 ฿14.0K
-34.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$204 R$1,021
$237 ฿7,752
-14.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$564 R$2,824
$801 ฿26.2K
-29.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$416 R$2,080
$515 ฿16.8K
-19.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,994 R$9,978
$1,975 ฿64.5K
0.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,319 R$6,600
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-10.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Joinville
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$689 R$3,447
$617 ฿20.2K
11.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.2
5
104.00%

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

Last update for Joinville: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Joinville versus $428 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 12% higher in Joinville, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Joinville versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Joinville vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Joinville wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Joinville vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Joinville or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Joinville, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Joinville vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,188 per month in Joinville and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Joinville or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Joinville, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Joinville and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $274 per month in Joinville and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Joinville or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $800/month in Joinville or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $792 in Joinville and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Joinville or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Joinville costs $792 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Joinville 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 Joinville or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Joinville. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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