Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Batu Kawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Batu Kawan

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 6.8% cheaper than Batu Kawan without rent, and 10.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 17.5% cheaper than Batu Kawan without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$4.77 MYR 18.84
-57.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$28.32 MYR 112
-34.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$4.79 MYR 18.93
56.16%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$3.07 MYR 12.11
-34.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.85 MYR 3.34
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.54 MYR 2.11
-35.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$4.35 MYR 17.17
-49.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$5.75 MYR 22.70
-34.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.42 MYR 5.62
21.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.04 MYR 4.12
56.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$0.74 MYR 2.92
56.76%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$1.96 MYR 7.74
1.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$14.64 MYR 57.8
8.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$4.54 MYR 17.94
-30.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$9.67 MYR 38.18
12.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.86 MYR 11.28
-7.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.55 MYR 6.14
-21.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$2.69 MYR 10.62
-36.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.52 MYR 6.02
4.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.22 MYR 4.81
8.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.36 MYR 5.36
-13.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$1.16 MYR 4.59
-41.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.63 MYR 2.50
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$4.24 MYR 16.73
6.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$18.75 MYR 74.1
1.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$3.26 MYR 12.86
-45.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$4.40 MYR 17.38
-27.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.72 MYR 2.84
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
$11.83 MYR 46.73
59.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$0.69 MYR 2.73
97.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$1.09 MYR 4.31
23.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$4.80 MYR 18.97
67.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$0.51 MYR 2.01
143.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$30.7K MYR 121.2K
-31.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$32.5K MYR 128.5K
-33.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$65.5 MYR 259
8.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$11.70 MYR 46.23
20.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$22.77 MYR 89.9
-23.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$37.29 MYR 147
12.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
$5.92 MYR 23.38
16.22%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$3.55 MYR 14.04
67.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$262 MYR 1,034
17.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$9,586 MYR 37.9K
54.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$61.8 MYR 244
-9.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$37.09 MYR 147
-27.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$85.2 MYR 337
-2.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$79.0 MYR 312
-11.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$384 MYR 1,517
11.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$273 MYR 1,076
-12.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$641 MYR 2,533
24.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$471 MYR 1,862
6.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
$1,756 MYR 6,935
17.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
$883 MYR 3,487
73.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Batu Kawan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$1,904 MYR 7,521
-65.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4
25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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