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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,124 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,819 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,514 in Astana, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Astana 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$10.49 ₸4,729

-79.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$37.23 ₸16.8K

-46.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.60 ₸3,426

-23.82%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.56 ₸1,152

-28.52%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.13 ₸507

-30.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.64 ₸288

-51.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.29 ₸580

81.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.17 ₸979

70.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.25 ₸564

62.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.57 ₸259

180.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.82 ₸819

-21.98%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.23 ₸1,004

-2.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$11.53 ₸5,197

37.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.68 ₸2,559

-45.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.53 ₸4,746

-6.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.80 ₸812

46.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.46 ₸1,108

-55.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.22 ₸1,000

-26.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.38 ₸1,074

-35.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.75 ₸338

65.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.45 ₸202

151.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.52 ₸687

-51.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.86 ₸388

-41.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.18 ₸982

96.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$11.06 ₸4,983

62.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.33 ₸598

27.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.38 ₸1,072

21.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.25 ₸113

276.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$16.49 ₸7,431

235.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.58 ₸1,164

-52.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.11 ₸501

-52.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$6.49 ₸2,923

-63.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.65 ₸293

121.54%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$24.2K ₸10.9M

-12.43%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$29.9K ₸13.5M

-8.74%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$66.7 ₸30.0K

-2.58%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$9.82 ₸4,423

35.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$17.73 ₸7,991

17.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$58.0 ₸26.1K

-30.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$20.39 ₸9,190

-80.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.25 ₸2,817

7.36%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$376 ₸169.5K

109.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$11.8K ₸5.3M

28.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$66.9 ₸30.2K

-15.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$45.46 ₸20.5K

-45.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$117 ₸52.6K

-20.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$127 ₸57.4K

-41.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$562 ₸253.3K

-13.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$380 ₸171.4K

-24.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,170 ₸527.0K

-22.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$775 ₸349.2K

-31.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,499 ₸675.6K

32.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,116 ₸502.8K

30.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$852 ₸383.8K

-28.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

16.2

-65.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Astana: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $562 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 41% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $227 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: $950 in Chiang Mai, $1,124 in Astana – roughly 18% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,687 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $376 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% 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 $950, than in Astana at $1,124. 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 $950 in Chiang Mai to $1,124 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.