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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $880 in Atyrau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,505 in Atyrau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,130 in Atyrau, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Atyrau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Atyrau are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Atyrau 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.02 ₸4,170

-78.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$32.22 ₸14.9K

-41.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.19 ₸2,864

27.95%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.81 ₸836

5.52%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.12 ₸520

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.77 ₸355

-54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.48 ₸687

49.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.88 ₸868

102.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.48 ₸686

10.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.37 ₸172

337.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.58 ₸731

-25.32%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.48 ₸684

35.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.10 ₸4,208

74.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.46 ₸3,449

-59.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.19 ₸3,324

49.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.46 ₸676

78.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.39 ₸1,103

-48.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.93 ₸893

-11.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.45 ₸671

8.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.58 ₸269

127.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.37 ₸170

216.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.14 ₸528

-41.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.30 ₸601

-56.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.10 ₸969

115.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.22 ₸4,262

97.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.22 ₸566

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.23 ₸570

162.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.28 ₸129

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$19.32 ₸8,933

0.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.40 ₸645

-3.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.25 ₸116

440.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$6.01 ₸2,778

37.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.49 ₸228

159.18%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$15.8K ₸7.3M

33.48%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.7K ₸10.9M

-4.96%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$46.89 ₸21.7K

49.61%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$9.41 ₸4,350

46.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$12.79 ₸5,913

37.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$58.6 ₸27.1K

-29.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.40 ₸2,499

7.04%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$254 ₸117.6K

20.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$3,045 ₸1.4M

386.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$29.31 ₸13.6K

85.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.32 ₸18.2K

-33.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$79.5 ₸36.8K

6.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$78.9 ₸36.5K

-12.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$449 ₸207.5K

-5.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$296 ₸136.8K

-19.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$975 ₸450.9K

-15.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$786 ₸363.5K

-34.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$913 ₸422.0K

124.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$689 ₸318.5K

121.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$695 ₸321.5K

-8.65%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Atyrau: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $449 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 9% 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 $32.00 in Atyrau. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $203 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: $852 in Chiang Mai, $880 in Atyrau – roughly 3% apart. Atyrau costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,321 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $254 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Atyrau at $880. 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 $852 in Chiang Mai to $880 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.