ðA single person spends $880 per month in Atyrau vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,505 per month in Atyrau vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $2,130 per month in Atyrau vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðAtyrau costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth Atyrau and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median â Atyrau34% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.02âļ4,170
$1.96āļŋ64.0
360.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22âļ14.9K
$18.81āļŋ615
71.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.19âļ2,864
$7.92āļŋ259
-21.84%
Cappuccino
$1.81âļ836
$1.91āļŋ62.6
-5.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12âļ520
$0.84āļŋ27.41
33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77âļ355
$0.35āļŋ11.51
120.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48âļ687
$2.21āļŋ72.1
-33.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88âļ868
$3.80āļŋ124
-50.53%
ð Groceries & Markets
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48âļ686
$1.64āļŋ53.5
-9.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.37âļ172
$1.62āļŋ53.1
-77.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58âļ731
$1.18āļŋ38.62
33.90%
Eggs
$1.48âļ684
$2.01āļŋ65.8
-26.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.10âļ4,208
$15.89āļŋ520
-42.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.46âļ3,449
$3.01āļŋ98.5
147.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.19âļ3,324
$10.77āļŋ352
-33.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46âļ676
$2.61āļŋ85.5
-44.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39âļ1,103
$1.22āļŋ39.88
95.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93âļ893
$1.70āļŋ55.7
13.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45âļ671
$1.58āļŋ51.5
-8.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58âļ269
$1.32āļŋ43.14
-56.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.37âļ170
$1.17āļŋ38.23
-68.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14âļ528
$0.67āļŋ21.98
70.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30âļ601
$0.56āļŋ18.32
132.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10âļ969
$4.53āļŋ148
-53.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.22âļ4,262
$18.20āļŋ595
-49.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22âļ566
$1.83āļŋ60.0
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23âļ570
$3.23āļŋ106
-61.92%
ð Getting Around
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28âļ129
$0.89āļŋ29.00
-68.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32âļ8,933
$19.38āļŋ634
-0.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.40âļ645
$1.35āļŋ44.20
3.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25âļ116
$1.35āļŋ44.05
-81.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.01âļ2,778
$8.25āļŋ270
-27.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49âļ228
$1.27āļŋ41.64
-61.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8Kâļ7.3M
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
-25.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7Kâļ10.9M
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
5.22%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.89âļ21.7K
$70.2āļŋ2,294
-33.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.41âļ4,350
$13.77āļŋ450
-31.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.79âļ5,913
$17.60āļŋ575
-27.33%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.6âļ27.1K
$41.57āļŋ1,360
41.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60āļŋ216
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.40âļ2,499
$5.78āļŋ189
-6.57%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$254âļ117.6K
$306āļŋ10.0K
-16.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,045âļ1.4M
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
-79.46%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.31âļ13.6K
$54.4āļŋ1,778
-46.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32âļ18.2K
$26.14āļŋ855
50.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5âļ36.8K
$84.5āļŋ2,764
-5.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9âļ36.5K
$69.4āļŋ2,270
13.68%
ð Accommodation & Living
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449âļ207.5K
$424āļŋ13.9K
5.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296âļ136.8K
$238āļŋ7,788
24.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$975âļ450.9K
$825āļŋ27.0K
18.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$786âļ363.5K
$515āļŋ16.8K
52.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$913âļ422.0K
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
-55.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$689âļ318.5K
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
-54.77%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Atyrau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$695âļ321.5K
$635āļŋ20.8K
9.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
30
5
500.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Atyrau: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Atyrau versus $424 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.
ð°Salaries run about 9% higher in Atyrau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Atyrau versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story â $203 in Atyrau vs $243 in Chiang Mai â so Atyrau 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
Atyrau vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Atyrau and Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $880 in Atyrau, $852 in Chiang Mai â roughly 3% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Atyrau compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,321 per month in Atyrau and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Atyrau and 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Atyrau and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $254 per month in Atyrau and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Atyrau â one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Atyrau at $880. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Atyrau and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $852 in Chiang Mai to $880 in Atyrau. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Atyrau or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Atyrau and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atyrau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.