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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $892 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,426 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,961 in Astana, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$8.27 ₸3,889

-76.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$29.74 ₸14.0K

-38.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.74 ₸2,697

30.31%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.22 ₸1,045

-9.01%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.91 ₸429

-6.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.57 ₸266

-36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.18 ₸557

81.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.01 ₸1,413

19.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.97 ₸456

70.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.46 ₸219

241.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.38 ₸650

-13.77%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.69 ₸794

14.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.49 ₸4,460

70.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.83 ₸2,269

-38.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.98 ₸3,281

56.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.37 ₸643

97.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.84 ₸863

-36.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.90 ₸895

-11.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.88 ₸886

-14.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.56 ₸262

146.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.37 ₸176

224.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.96 ₸449

-30.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.74 ₸349

-24.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.90 ₸895

144.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$9.54 ₸4,482

84.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.97 ₸455

91.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.68 ₸789

96.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.23 ₸108

282.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$14.80 ₸6,955

30.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.80 ₸844

-24.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.71 ₸333

88.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.32 ₸2,028

90.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.51 ₸239

139.22%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$20.3K ₸9.5M

5.31%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$25.2K ₸11.9M

-10.76%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$53.3 ₸25.0K

32.71%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$8.34 ₸3,918

68.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$13.70 ₸6,438

27.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$51.0 ₸24.0K

-17.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$10.96 ₸5,150

-37.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.22 ₸2,454

13.41%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$239 ₸112.3K

29.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,800 ₸2.3M

209.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$57.4 ₸27.0K

-2.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$35.08 ₸16.5K

-25.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$87.6 ₸41.2K

-5.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$87.7 ₸41.2K

-19.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$467 ₸219.4K

-7.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$323 ₸151.6K

-25.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$860 ₸404.3K

-4.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$587 ₸276.0K

-12.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,409 ₸662.3K

35.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,013 ₸476.3K

44.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$845 ₸397.2K

-31.45%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $467 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 46% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $177 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: $861 in Chiang Mai, $892 in Astana – roughly 4% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,338 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $239 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 37% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $892 in Astana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $861 in Chiang Mai to $892 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.