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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $912 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,309 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,707 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Alor Setar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Alor Setar 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.09 MYR 8.51

0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$12.42 MYR 50.5

59.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.13 MYR 16.81

40.19%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.92 MYR 7.80

-4.69%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.53 MYR 2.17

47.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.31 MYR 1.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.47 MYR 10.03

-5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.39 MYR 17.84

-15.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.61 MYR 6.56

26.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.85 MYR 3.47

88.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.69 MYR 6.88

-15.98%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.55 MYR 6.30

40.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$15.86 MYR 64.5

0.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.98 MYR 20.24

-38.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.04 MYR 40.85

-1.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.45 MYR 9.96

7.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.26 MYR 5.11

-12.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.35 MYR 9.55

-30.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.27 MYR 5.16

20.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.87 MYR 3.55

42.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.80 MYR 3.27

41.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.78 MYR 3.16

-5.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.65 MYR 2.64

-23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.65 MYR 18.91

-7.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$21.55 MYR 87.7

-16.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.42 MYR 9.85

-29.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$3.66 MYR 14.90

-20.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.77 MYR 3.13

22.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$12.49 MYR 50.8

342.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.21 MYR 4.91

1.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.51 MYR 2.09

3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$6.70 MYR 27.25

-64.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.50 MYR 2.02

188.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$42.7K MYR 173.6K

-50.34%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$28.3K MYR 115.0K

-3.42%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$51.8 MYR 211

25.35%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$7.58 MYR 30.85

76.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$21.95 MYR 89.3

-5.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$40.67 MYR 165

-0.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.65 MYR 27.03

-40.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.67 MYR 18.99

43.68%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$175 MYR 712

349.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$5,032 MYR 20.5K

200.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$54.2 MYR 221

3.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$35.61 MYR 145

-29.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$74.1 MYR 301

25.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$70.5 MYR 287

6.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$427 MYR 1,735

13.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$336 MYR 1,367

-14.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$712 MYR 2,895

27.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$505 MYR 2,055

5.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,038 MYR 8,289

-2.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,146 MYR 4,664

26.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,646 MYR 6,696

-63.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.43

25.73%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $427 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 172% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $253 in Alor Setar – so Chiang Mai 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Alor Setar, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,368 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $175 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Alor Setar, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Alor Setar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $912 versus $950 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.