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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 3.5% cheaper than Almaty without rent, and 18% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.8% cheaper than Almaty without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$8.01 ₸3,959
-74.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$38.87 ₸19.2K
-52.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$7.02 ₸3,473
6.55%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$2.38 ₸1,176
-15.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.91 ₸451
-6.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.54 ₸265
-35.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$1.34 ₸663
64.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$2.86 ₸1,412
31.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.27 ₸627
35.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.59 ₸291
176.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.50 ₸741
-22.67%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$1.74 ₸858
13.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$9.44 ₸4,666
68.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$4.68 ₸2,311
-32.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$7.58 ₸3,750
43.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$1.36 ₸672
94.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.90 ₸940
-35.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.97 ₸976
-13.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$2.07 ₸1,021
-23.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$0.57 ₸284
131.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$0.42 ₸208
178.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$1.31 ₸646
-48.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.70 ₸346
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$1.99 ₸984
126.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$8.04 ₸3,973
137.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$0.90 ₸445
96.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.12 ₸1,048
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.24 ₸119
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
$18.04 ₸8,917
4.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$1.19 ₸586
14.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.70 ₸348
92.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$4.71 ₸2,331
70.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$0.48 ₸239
158.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$23.2K ₸11.5M
-8.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$26.6K ₸13.1M
-18.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$62.2 ₸30.7K
14.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$8.50 ₸4,202
65.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$13.46 ₸6,657
29.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$47.24 ₸23.4K
-10.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
$21.55 ₸10.7K
-68.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$5.37 ₸2,657
10.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$261 ₸128.8K
17.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$12.9K ₸6.4M
14.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$84.9 ₸42.0K
-34.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$43.20 ₸21.4K
-37.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$98.9 ₸48.9K
-15.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$121 ₸59.7K
-41.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$657 ₸324.9K
-34.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$416 ₸205.8K
-43.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$1,174 ₸580.5K
-31.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$773 ₸381.9K
-34.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
$2,004 ₸990.7K
2.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
$1,143 ₸565.0K
34.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$750 ₸370.8K
-12.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
18.39
-72.81%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Almaty: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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