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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $889 in Atyrau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,517 in Atyrau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,145 in Atyrau, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Atyrau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Atyrau are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Atyrau 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$8.75 ₸4,273

-77.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$32.53 ₸15.9K

-42.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.21 ₸3,034

24.80%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.90 ₸930

1.05%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.13 ₸550

-30.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.72 ₸353

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.51 ₸737

46.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.81 ₸884

102.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.45 ₸708

13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.40 ₸195

307.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.59 ₸777

-25.16%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.44 ₸701

38.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$8.94 ₸4,368

78.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.69 ₸3,757

-60.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.98 ₸3,407

55.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.46 ₸714

89.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.33 ₸1,136

-49.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.04 ₸996

-19.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.50 ₸734

1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.59 ₸288

133.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.36 ₸177

230.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.09 ₸532

-35.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.23 ₸603

-54.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.19 ₸1,070

109.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.70 ₸4,247

90.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.20 ₸588

52.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.28 ₸625

150.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.28 ₸135

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$19.82 ₸9,680

-5.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.40 ₸683

-2.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.23 ₸111

482.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.95 ₸2,907

31.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.48 ₸235

156.25%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$15.7K ₸7.7M

37.64%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$23.2K ₸11.3M

-2.86%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$46.02 ₸22.5K

53.28%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$9.36 ₸4,572

46.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$12.73 ₸6,220

37.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$58.2 ₸28.4K

-29.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.43 ₸2,650

6.26%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$256 ₸125.3K

19.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$3,021 ₸1.5M

383.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$28.88 ₸14.1K

93.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$39.76 ₸19.4K

-34.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$79.4 ₸38.8K

8.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$77.9 ₸38.0K

-7.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$463 ₸226.1K

-7.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$303 ₸148.0K

-21.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$969 ₸473.1K

-15.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$782 ₸382.1K

-34.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$835 ₸407.9K

137.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$652 ₸318.3K

127.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$669 ₸326.9K

-7.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-83.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Atyrau: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $463 in Atyrau. 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 8% higher in Atyrau, 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 $33.00 in Atyrau. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $201 in Atyrau – so Atyrau 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 Atyrau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai, $889 in Atyrau – roughly 2% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,334 in Atyrau. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $256 in Atyrau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Atyrau – 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $889 in Atyrau, 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 $869 in Chiang Mai to $889 in Atyrau. 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, Atyrau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.