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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $680 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,049 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,417 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Alor Setar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Alor Setar 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.33 MYR 9.30

-16.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.63 MYR 46.40

60.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.16 MYR 16.61

87.98%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.62 MYR 6.48

20.37%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.51 MYR 2.04

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.27 MYR 1.07

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.53 MYR 14.08

-39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.32 MYR 9.28

60.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.63 MYR 6.52

4.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.89 MYR 3.54

83.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.20 MYR 4.80

-5.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.50 MYR 6.00

28.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.76 MYR 46.91

37.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.12 MYR 12.44

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.27 MYR 33.00

31.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.89 MYR 11.55

-4.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.04 MYR 4.14

16.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.38 MYR 5.51

17.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.09 MYR 8.34

-23.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.88 MYR 3.52

59.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.54 MYR 2.14

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.68 MYR 2.72

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.46 MYR 1.82

15.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.81 MYR 11.20

66.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$19.36 MYR 77.2

-3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.16 MYR 4.64

55.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.10 MYR 8.38

53.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.69 MYR 2.77

30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$11.76 MYR 46.93

63.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.74 MYR 2.96

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.55 MYR 2.18

134.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.23 MYR 28.86

8.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.46 MYR 1.85

176.09%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$33.8K MYR 134.8K

-37.04%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$27.9K MYR 111.5K

-20.48%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$39.16 MYR 156

76.38%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$7.01 MYR 27.98

100.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$27.13 MYR 108

-33.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$36.34 MYR 145

12.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$9.33 MYR 37.23

-25.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.76 MYR 11.02

114.49%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$83.4 MYR 333

258.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$5,240 MYR 20.9K

185.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$46.55 MYR 186

17.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$28.70 MYR 115

-6.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$62.1 MYR 248

36.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$52.5 MYR 210

34.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$299 MYR 1,193

43.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$170 MYR 679

39.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$442 MYR 1,763

81.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$335 MYR 1,337

53.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,912 MYR 7,629

3.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$900 MYR 3,592

63.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,649 MYR 6,578

-62.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $299 in Alor Setar. 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 167% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $209 – making Alor Setar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Alor Setar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,021 in Alor Setar. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $83.4 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $680 in Alor Setar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $680 versus $866 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.