Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jyvaskyla and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $1,812 in Jyvaskyla, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Jyvaskyla
🇫🇮 Finland
$1,812
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jyvaskyla and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jyvaskyla and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,812 per month in Jyvaskyla vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Jyvaskyla $1,812
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Jyvaskyla vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Jyvaskyla $2,825
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $3,838 per month in Jyvaskyla vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Jyvaskyla $3,838
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Jyvaskyla costs about 93% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Jyvaskyla sits 34% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13 €14.35
$2.26 ฿75.4
613.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9 €81.8
$19.18 ฿641
379.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.84 €10.53
$5.59 ฿187
111.81%
Cappuccino
$4.68 €4.16
$1.72 ฿57.6
172.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 €2.19
$0.64 ฿21.54
284.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 €1.65
$0.33 ฿11.18
463.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 €7.27
$2.36 ฿78.7
246.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.22 €7.31
$3.90 ฿130
110.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.32
$2.05 ฿68.6
-27.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.43 €2.16
$1.40 ฿46.70
73.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.70 €2.40
$1.28 ฿42.89
110.94%
Eggs
$2.80 €2.49
$2.25 ฿75.3
24.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.63 €6.78
$16.94 ฿566
-54.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.58 €12.97
$2.74 ฿91.6
432.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.73 €16.66
$9.36 ฿313
100.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 €2.19
$2.40 ฿80.3
2.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 €1.84
$1.01 ฿33.92
104.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 €2.05
$1.61 ฿53.9
42.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 €3.38
$1.52 ฿50.7
150.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 €1.25
$1.28 ฿42.90
9.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 €1.41
$1.11 ฿37.22
43.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$0.72 ฿24.09
101.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 €1.61
$0.52 ฿17.54
248.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.13 €11.68
$4.33 ฿145
203.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.65 €12.14
$17.73 ฿593
-23.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 €2.82
$1.63 ฿54.4
95.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 €2.97
$2.85 ฿95.3
17.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.34 €2.97
$0.85 ฿28.31
292.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.2 €64.2
$53.9 ฿1,801
33.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.18 €7.28
$1.17 ฿39.18
599.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 €1.21
$0.57 ฿19.00
138.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.4 €58.2
$2.37 ฿79.2
2660.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 €2.04
$1.45 ฿48.32
57.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K €32.6K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
78.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K €32.7K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
38.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 €120
$62.3 ฿2,083
116.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.54 €26.27
$12.27 ฿410
140.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.95 €19.53
$19.97 ฿668
9.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 €49.33
$37.91 ฿1,267
46.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.36 €35.90
$3.76 ฿126
973.40%
Cinema Ticket
$18.66 €16.60
$6.71 ฿224
178.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$311 €277
$797 ฿26.6K
-60.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,353 €6,541
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-50.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.0 €79.1
$53.3 ฿1,780
67.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.11 €25.00
$25.05 ฿837
12.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 €68.6
$91.6 ฿3,062
-15.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €100
$73.5 ฿2,455
53.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$852 €757
$464 ฿15.5K
83.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$649 €577
$305 ฿10.2K
112.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 €1,184
$915 ฿30.6K
45.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 €922
$552 ฿18.5K
87.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,423 €3,045
$1,912 ฿63.9K
79.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,310 €2,055
$1,438 ฿48.1K
60.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jyvaskyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,901 €2,581
$595 ฿19.9K
387.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.94
5.57
-29.26%

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

Last update for Jyvaskyla: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Jyvaskyla
$649
Chiang Mai
$305 53% $344
Groceries & Markets
Jyvaskyla
$351
Chiang Mai
$238 32.1% $113
Eating Out
Jyvaskyla
$295
Chiang Mai
$79 73.2% $216
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jyvaskyla
$187
Chiang Mai
$95 49.3% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Jyvaskyla
$138
Chiang Mai
$110 20.7% $29
Getting Around
Jyvaskyla
$101
Chiang Mai
$61 39% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Jyvaskyla
$93
Chiang Mai
$51 44.7% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $852 in Jyvaskyla versus $464 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 387% higher in Jyvaskyla, 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 $92.0 in Jyvaskyla versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇮 Jyvaskyla
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
20:27 8:27 PM
00:27 12:27 AM
4 h ahead of Jyvaskyla
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
147,821
127,240
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jyvaskyla Chiang Mai 7,300 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Jyvaskyla
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Jyvaskyla vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jyvaskyla or Chiang Mai?
Jyvaskyla costs about 93% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Jyvaskyla and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,719 per month in Jyvaskyla and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jyvaskyla 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 childcare costs compare in Jyvaskyla and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $311 per month in Jyvaskyla and $797 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 Jyvaskyla or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Jyvaskyla, 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 Jyvaskyla or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Jyvaskyla at $1,812. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jyvaskyla it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jyvaskyla or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $1,812 in Jyvaskyla. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jyvaskyla 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 Jyvaskyla or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jyvaskyla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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