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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Astana vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Astana vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Astana vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Astana costs about 5% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Astana and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Astana 32% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.10 ₸3,936

$1.94 ฿63.8

317.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.85 ₸14.0K

$18.64 ฿611

54.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 ₸2,797

$7.82 ฿256

-26.34%

Cappuccino

$2.19 ₸1,066

$1.95 ฿64.1

12.31%

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

$0.91 ₸444

$0.85 ฿27.88

7.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸259

$0.35 ฿11.63

51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₸554

$2.13 ฿69.9

-46.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,432

$3.73 ฿122

-20.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₸492

$1.71 ฿56.2

-40.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₸245

$1.63 ฿53.4

-69.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ₸680

$1.14 ฿37.30

22.81%

Eggs

$1.79 ₸868

$1.93 ฿63.4

-7.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.34 ₸4,537

$16.21 ฿532

-42.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₸2,300

$3.12 ฿102

51.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 ₸3,381

$10.90 ฿357

-36.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₸661

$2.75 ฿90.3

-50.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₸907

$1.21 ฿39.68

54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₸935

$1.62 ฿53.2

18.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ₸959

$1.59 ฿52.0

23.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸283

$1.40 ฿45.89

-58.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸183

$1.17 ฿38.32

-67.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸495

$0.66 ฿21.69

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸364

$0.53 ฿17.29

41.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.81 ₸878

$4.69 ฿154

-61.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.14 ₸4,440

$18.66 ฿612

-51.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₸497

$1.80 ฿59.0

-43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₸823

$3.23 ฿106

-47.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸102

$0.90 ฿29.37

-76.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.56 ₸7,075

$19.21 ฿630

-24.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₸868

$1.41 ฿46.10

26.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸345

$1.29 ฿42.29

-44.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 ₸2,191

$7.84 ฿257

-42.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸226

$1.27 ฿41.75

-62.99%

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

$20.7K ₸10.1M

$21.3K ฿697.7K

-2.51%

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

$24.7K ₸12.0M

$22.2K ฿728.3K

11.42%

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

$53.9 ₸26.2K

$69.1 ฿2,265

-21.91%

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

$8.00 ₸3,888

$14.08 ฿462

-43.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,751

$18.00 ฿590

-22.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.83 ₸24.2K

$41.06 ฿1,346

21.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₸5,419

$6.96 ฿228

60.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.30 ₸2,572

$5.92 ฿194

-10.47%

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

$238 ₸115.8K

$299 ฿9,805

-20.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,790 ₸2.3M

$15.0K ฿490.3K

-67.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ₸27.1K

$54.7 ฿1,794

1.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₸16.9K

$26.77 ฿878

30.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 ₸43.1K

$85.0 ฿2,787

4.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₸41.8K

$70.6 ฿2,315

21.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₸232.1K

$428 ฿14.0K

11.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸159.2K

$237 ฿7,782

38.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 ₸412.2K

$801 ฿26.3K

5.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₸290.3K

$515 ฿16.9K

15.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₸669.5K

$1,975 ฿64.7K

-30.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 ₸482.3K

$1,475 ฿48.4K

-32.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$798 ₸387.8K

$617 ฿20.2K

29.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

222.40%

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

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Astana 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 29% higher in Astana, 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 $29.00 in Astana versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Astana vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Astana 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $912 in Astana, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 5% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,367 per month in Astana 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.

Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Astana and $299 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 38% cheaper in Astana – 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 Astana at $912. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $912 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Astana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.