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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Astana 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$8.10 ₸3,936

-76.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$28.85 ₸14.0K

-35.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$5.76 ₸2,797

35.76%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$2.19 ₸1,066

-10.96%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.91 ₸444

-6.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.53 ₸259

-33.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.14 ₸554

86.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.95 ₸1,432

26.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$1.01 ₸492

69.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.50 ₸245

226.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.40 ₸680

-18.57%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.79 ₸868

7.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$9.34 ₸4,537

73.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.73 ₸2,300

-34.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$6.96 ₸3,381

56.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.36 ₸661

102.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$1.87 ₸907

-35.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$1.92 ₸935

-15.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$1.97 ₸959

-19.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.58 ₸283

141.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.38 ₸183

207.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$1.02 ₸495

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.75 ₸364

-29.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$1.81 ₸878

159.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$9.14 ₸4,440

104.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$1.02 ₸497

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.70 ₸823

90.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.21 ₸102

328.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$14.56 ₸7,075

31.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$1.79 ₸868

-21.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.71 ₸345

81.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$4.51 ₸2,191

73.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.47 ₸226

170.21%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$20.7K ₸10.1M

2.58%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$24.7K ₸12.0M

-10.25%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$53.9 ₸26.2K

28.05%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$8.00 ₸3,888

76.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$13.90 ₸6,751

29.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$49.83 ₸24.2K

-17.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$11.16 ₸5,419

-37.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$5.30 ₸2,572

11.70%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$238 ₸115.8K

25.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$4,790 ₸2.3M

212.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$55.8 ₸27.1K

-1.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$34.85 ₸16.9K

-23.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$88.8 ₸43.1K

-4.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$86.1 ₸41.8K

-17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$478 ₸232.1K

-10.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$328 ₸159.2K

-27.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$848 ₸412.2K

-5.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$598 ₸290.3K

-13.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$1,378 ₸669.5K

43.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$993 ₸482.3K

48.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$798 ₸387.8K

-22.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

-68.98%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $478 in Astana. 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 29% higher in Astana, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $178 in Astana – so Astana 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $912 in Astana – roughly 5% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,367 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $238 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 38% cheaper in Astana – 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Astana at $912. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $912 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Astana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.