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 $892 per month in Astana vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Astana vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,961 per month in Astana vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Astana costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Astana and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Astana 33% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 ₸3,889

$1.96 ฿65.8

321.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.74 ₸14.0K

$18.35 ฿617

62.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 ₸2,697

$7.48 ฿252

-23.26%

Cappuccino

$2.22 ₸1,045

$2.02 ฿67.8

9.90%

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

$0.91 ₸429

$0.85 ฿28.50

7.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸266

$0.36 ฿11.96

58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₸557

$2.14 ฿71.8

-44.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,413

$3.59 ฿121

-16.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 ₸456

$1.65 ฿55.5

-41.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₸219

$1.57 ฿52.7

-70.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₸650

$1.19 ฿40.02

15.97%

Eggs

$1.69 ₸794

$1.94 ฿65.1

-12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 ₸4,460

$16.19 ฿544

-41.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 ₸2,269

$2.99 ฿101

61.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 ₸3,281

$10.94 ฿368

-36.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 ₸643

$2.71 ฿91.2

-49.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸863

$1.17 ฿39.25

57.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸895

$1.69 ฿56.7

12.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₸886

$1.60 ฿54.0

17.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸262

$1.38 ฿46.54

-59.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸176

$1.20 ฿40.45

-69.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₸449

$0.67 ฿22.50

43.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸349

$0.56 ฿18.73

32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 ₸895

$4.64 ฿156

-59.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.54 ₸4,482

$17.62 ฿593

-45.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸455

$1.86 ฿62.5

-47.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₸789

$3.30 ฿111

-49.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸108

$0.88 ฿29.68

-73.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.80 ₸6,955

$19.34 ฿650

-23.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₸844

$1.36 ฿45.90

32.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸333

$1.34 ฿44.98

-47.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 ₸2,028

$8.21 ฿276

-47.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 ₸239

$1.22 ฿41.18

-58.20%

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

$20.3K ₸9.5M

$21.4K ฿718.1K

-5.04%

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

$25.2K ₸11.9M

$22.5K ฿757.7K

12.05%

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

$53.3 ₸25.0K

$70.7 ฿2,376

-24.65%

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

$8.34 ₸3,918

$14.04 ฿472

-40.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.70 ₸6,438

$17.49 ฿588

-21.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 ₸24.0K

$42.15 ฿1,417

21.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ₸5,150

$6.88 ฿231

59.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 ₸2,454

$5.92 ฿199

-11.82%

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

$239 ₸112.3K

$309 ฿10.4K

-22.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,800 ₸2.3M

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-67.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 ₸27.0K

$55.8 ฿1,875

2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 ₸16.5K

$26.11 ฿878

34.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₸41.2K

$83.0 ฿2,792

5.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 ₸41.2K

$70.5 ฿2,369

24.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ₸219.4K

$432 ฿14.5K

8.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 ₸151.6K

$239 ฿8,035

35.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₸404.3K

$822 ฿27.7K

4.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₸276.0K

$512 ฿17.2K

14.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₸662.3K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-26.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,013 ₸476.3K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-30.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$845 ₸397.2K

$579 ฿19.5K

45.88%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Astana versus $432 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 46% 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 $30.00 in Astana versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Astana vs $243 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: $892 in Astana, $861 in Chiang Mai – roughly 4% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Astana and $1,292 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 $239 per month in Astana and $309 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 37% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $892 in Astana and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $861 in Chiang Mai to $892 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.