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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,172 per month in Juba vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,854 per month in Juba vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,536 per month in Juba vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Juba costs about 266% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Juba sits 137% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 SSP 14.4K

$1.94 ฿63.5

163.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.89 SSP 132.0K

$18.64 ฿609

151.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 SSP 19.6K

$7.82 ฿255

-11.13%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.97 SSP 2,732

$0.85 ฿27.77

14.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$2.04 SSP 5,749

$1.93 ฿63.1

5.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SSP 1,447

$0.53 ฿17.22

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.03 SSP 19.8K

$1.41 ฿45.91

398.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 SSP 4,137

$1.27 ฿41.58

15.75%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 SSP 283.0K

$18.00 ฿588

458.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$348 SSP 979.5K

$41.06 ฿1,341

747.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,536 SSP 10.0M

$428 ฿14.0K

725.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,659 SSP 7.5M

$237 ฿7,752

1020.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$12.0K SSP 33.8M

$801 ฿26.2K

1400.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,310 SSP 3.7M

$515 ฿16.8K

154.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,784 SSP 5.0M

$617 ฿20.2K

188.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

140.00%

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

Last update for Juba: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,536 in Juba 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 189% higher in Juba, 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 $47.00 in Juba versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $14.00 in Juba vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Juba 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

Juba vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Juba costs about 266% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,758 per month in Juba and $1,300 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,172 in Juba and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1618% cheaper in Juba – 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 $866, than in Juba at $3,172. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Juba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,172 in Juba. 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, Juba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.