Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Astana

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,133 in Astana, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
55

Cost of Living Index in Astana
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Astana Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Astana

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

$1,133

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Astana

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Astana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Astana, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Astana $1,133

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,810 in Astana, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Astana $1,810

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,486 in Astana, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Astana $2,486

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Astana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Astana 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$11.06 ₸5,039

-79.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$38.01 ₸17.3K

-50.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$7.89 ₸3,596

-29.66%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$2.65 ₸1,205

-36.98%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

$1.08 ₸490

-40.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

$0.62 ₸282

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.34 ₸611

76.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

$2.25 ₸1,024

62.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.26 ₸573

54.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$0.60 ₸275

140.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$1.55 ₸708

-14.19%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$2.18 ₸992

4.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$11.98 ₸5,459

37.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$5.79 ₸2,638

-51.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$10.57 ₸4,815

-11.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$1.82 ₸830

29.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$2.31 ₸1,052

-58.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$2.29 ₸1,043

-30.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$2.19 ₸996

-31.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$0.66 ₸299

93.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$0.46 ₸210

139.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$1.53 ₸695

-53.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.90 ₸412

-45.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.37 ₸1,079

74.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

$10.93 ₸4,978

60.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

$1.30 ₸590

23.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$2.35 ₸1,071

18.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.25 ₸114

248.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

$16.60 ₸7,560

225.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

$2.27 ₸1,032

-48.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

$1.13 ₸515

-53.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$6.62 ₸3,016

-63.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$0.69 ₸312

110.14%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

$28.0K ₸12.8M

-24.89%

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

$31.7K ₸14.4M

-14.88%

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$68.4 ₸31.2K

-9.11%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$10.08 ₸4,592

20.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$18.13 ₸8,258

10.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$58.7 ₸26.7K

-36.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$20.67 ₸9,414

-81.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$6.27 ₸2,856

3.51%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$487 ₸221.9K

51.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

$11.7K ₸5.3M

26.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

$64.6 ₸29.4K

-17.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

$46.35 ₸21.1K

-46.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

$120 ₸54.5K

-23.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

$126 ₸57.5K

-43.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$564 ₸256.9K

-14.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$391 ₸178.3K

-21.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$1,151 ₸524.1K

-12.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

$769 ₸350.1K

-17.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

$1,560 ₸710.5K

51.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,120 ₸510.2K

41.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$867 ₸394.7K

-31.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.83

-62.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Astana: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Astana

$391 34.5% 26.7% $83

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Astana

$226 20% 3.5% $8.3

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Astana

$161 14.2% 47.7% $52

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Astana

$97 8.5% 2.3% $2.2

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Astana

$162 14.3% 109% $84

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Astana

$26 2.3% 58.4% $36

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Astana

$71 6.3% 41.6% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $564 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 47% higher in Astana. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $38 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $226 in Astana – so Astana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇰🇿 Astana

🕒 Local time

13:20 1:20 PM

11:20 11:20 AM

2 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

814,400 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Kazakhstani Tenge KZT ₸

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD

1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 456 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 507 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Astana 4,330 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Astana

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $936 in Chiang Mai, $1,133 in Astana – Chiang Mai comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,700 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $564 in Astana.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $487 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,133 in Astana. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $936 versus $1,133 in Astana. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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