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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $680 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,040 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,401 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 36% lower, Alor Setar 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.39 MYR 9.76

-17.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$11.99 MYR 49.05

53.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.00 MYR 16.37

87.00%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.62 MYR 6.62

24.69%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.55 MYR 2.26

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.29 MYR 1.19

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.58 MYR 14.63

-40.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.32 MYR 9.47

54.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.61 MYR 6.57

2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.87 MYR 3.57

80.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.17 MYR 4.77

1.71%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.47 MYR 6.00

31.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$12.08 MYR 49.43

34.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.02 MYR 12.37

-0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.46 MYR 34.59

29.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.78 MYR 11.37

-2.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.04 MYR 4.25

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.39 MYR 5.67

21.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.08 MYR 8.49

-23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.89 MYR 3.62

55.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.54 MYR 2.19

122.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.69 MYR 2.84

-2.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.48 MYR 1.98

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.77 MYR 11.34

67.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$18.93 MYR 77.4

-6.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.19 MYR 4.88

56.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.09 MYR 8.54

57.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.74 MYR 3.03

18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$11.93 MYR 48.79

62.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.69 MYR 2.82

97.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.51 MYR 2.08

162.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.00 MYR 28.63

17.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.47 MYR 1.92

159.57%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$34.0K MYR 139.1K

-37.21%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$28.0K MYR 114.3K

-19.40%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$39.42 MYR 161

79.27%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$7.26 MYR 29.69

93.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$26.83 MYR 110

-34.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$36.19 MYR 148

16.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$9.65 MYR 39.49

-28.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.91 MYR 11.90

103.44%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$82.5 MYR 338

273.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,299 MYR 21.7K

180.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$47.53 MYR 194

17.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$29.19 MYR 119

-10.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$62.1 MYR 254

33.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$53.6 MYR 219

31.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$298 MYR 1,219

44.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$174 MYR 713

37.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$454 MYR 1,857

81.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$342 MYR 1,400

49.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,225 MYR 9,100

-13.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,040 MYR 4,253

41.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,620 MYR 6,625

-64.23%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $298 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 180% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $208 – 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,020 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $82.5 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $861 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 $861 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.