Cost of Living Comparison Between Alor Setar and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Alor Setar and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Alor Setar vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,309 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,707 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Alor Setar is about 4% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Alor Setar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Alor Setar 34% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 MYR 8.51

$2.10 ฿69.3

-0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.42 MYR 50.5

$19.84 ฿656

-37.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 MYR 16.81

$5.79 ฿191

-28.67%

Cappuccino

$1.92 MYR 7.80

$1.83 ฿60.4

4.92%

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

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.78 ฿25.61

-32.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 MYR 1.28

$0.31 ฿10.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 MYR 10.03

$2.34 ฿77.2

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 MYR 17.84

$3.70 ฿122

18.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 MYR 6.56

$2.03 ฿67.1

-20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$1.60 ฿52.7

-46.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.88

$1.42 ฿46.75

19.01%

Eggs

$1.55 MYR 6.30

$2.18 ฿71.9

-28.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.86 MYR 64.5

$15.91 ฿526

-0.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 MYR 20.24

$3.07 ฿102

62.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 MYR 40.85

$9.87 ฿326

1.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.96

$2.63 ฿86.8

-6.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.11

$1.10 ฿36.19

14.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 MYR 9.55

$1.63 ฿53.8

44.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.16

$1.53 ฿50.6

-16.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MYR 3.55

$1.24 ฿41.13

-29.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.27

$1.13 ฿37.37

-29.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 MYR 3.16

$0.74 ฿24.38

5.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 MYR 2.64

$0.50 ฿16.48

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 MYR 18.91

$4.28 ฿141

8.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.55 MYR 87.7

$17.97 ฿594

19.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 MYR 9.85

$1.70 ฿56.1

42.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 MYR 14.90

$2.90 ฿95.7

26.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$0.94 ฿31.13

-18.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 50.8

$55.3 ฿1,827

-77.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$1.23 ฿40.76

-1.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.09

$0.53 ฿17.66

-3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.70 MYR 27.25

$2.40 ฿79.3

179.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.02

$1.44 ฿47.55

-65.28%

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

$42.7K MYR 173.6K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

101.36%

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

$28.3K MYR 115.0K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

3.54%

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

$51.8 MYR 211

$64.9 ฿2,145

-20.22%

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

$7.58 MYR 30.85

$13.35 ฿441

-43.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.95 MYR 89.3

$20.83 ฿688

5.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.67 MYR 165

$40.42 ฿1,336

0.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.65 MYR 27.03

$3.95 ฿131

68.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 MYR 18.99

$6.71 ฿222

-30.40%

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

$175 MYR 712

$787 ฿26.0K

-77.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,032 MYR 20.5K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-66.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 MYR 221

$56.2 ฿1,858

-3.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.61 MYR 145

$24.95 ฿824

42.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MYR 301

$92.7 ฿3,063

-20.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 MYR 287

$75.1 ฿2,482

-6.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 MYR 1,735

$484 ฿16.0K

-11.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 MYR 1,367

$287 ฿9,491

16.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$712 MYR 2,895

$910 ฿30.1K

-21.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 MYR 2,055

$531 ฿17.5K

-4.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,038 MYR 8,289

$1,980 ฿65.4K

2.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,146 MYR 4,664

$1,451 ฿47.9K

-21.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,646 MYR 6,696

$605 ฿20.0K

171.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.43

5.57

-20.47%

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

Last update for Alor Setar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Alor Setar versus $484 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 172% higher in Alor Setar, 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 $12.00 in Alor Setar versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Alor Setar vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Chiang Mai 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

Alor Setar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Alor Setar, 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 $1,368 per month in Alor Setar and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alor Setar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Alor Setar and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chiang Mai – 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 Alor Setar, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Alor Setar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $912 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Alor Setar. 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.