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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,014 in Atyrau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,680 in Atyrau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,345 in Atyrau, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Atyrau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Atyrau are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Atyrau 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$9.93 ₸4,477

-78.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$36.12 ₸16.3K

-45.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.02 ₸3,165

-17.52%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.10 ₸945

-12.86%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.15 ₸518

-32.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.79 ₸356

-60.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.66 ₸748

40.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.06 ₸929

79.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.73 ₸779

17.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.47 ₸213

240.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.02 ₸912

-29.70%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.53 ₸688

42.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$11.04 ₸4,977

44.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$8.32 ₸3,750

-63.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.97 ₸3,590

23.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.80 ₸812

46.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.57 ₸1,160

-57.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.27 ₸1,022

-28.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.77 ₸799

-13.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.63 ₸284

96.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.44 ₸200

156.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.29 ₸581

-42.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.99 ₸446

-49.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.38 ₸1,074

79.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$9.61 ₸4,330

86.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.31 ₸591

29.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.40 ₸629

107.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.32 ₸143

193.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$22.11 ₸9,965

150.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.51 ₸682

-18.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.65 ₸292

-18.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$6.55 ₸2,952

-63.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.62 ₸278

132.26%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$17.7K ₸8.0M

19.46%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$29.5K ₸13.3M

-7.30%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$52.3 ₸23.6K

24.10%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$10.87 ₸4,898

22.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$14.13 ₸6,367

47.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$64.9 ₸29.2K

-37.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$9.74 ₸4,389

-59.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.05 ₸2,724

10.91%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$291 ₸131.2K

170.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,377 ₸1.5M

347.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$32.52 ₸14.7K

72.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$43.65 ₸19.7K

-42.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$89.8 ₸40.5K

3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$87.3 ₸39.3K

-13.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$519 ₸233.9K

-6.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$340 ₸153.1K

-15.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,100 ₸495.5K

-17.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$782 ₸352.4K

-32.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$958 ₸431.9K

106.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$733 ₸330.5K

97.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$736 ₸331.8K

-17.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-81.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Atyrau: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $519 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 22% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Atyrau. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $226 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: $950 in Chiang Mai, $1,014 in Atyrau – roughly 7% apart. Atyrau 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 $1,522 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $291 in Atyrau. 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 Atyrau – 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 Atyrau at $1,014. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atyrau 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 $1,014 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.