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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 4.6% cheaper than Bintulu without rent, and 9.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 1% cheaper than Bintulu without rent, and 9.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ฿66.5
$3.71 MYR 14.96
-45.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.13 ฿590
$17.41 MYR 70.2
4.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$5.69 MYR 22.94
37.43%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.4
$2.84 MYR 11.45
-32.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.65
$0.66 MYR 2.64
28.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.64
$0.40 MYR 1.60
-17.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿71.3
$2.89 MYR 11.65
-24.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿117
$5.01 MYR 20.17
-28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿56.0
$1.80 MYR 7.26
-4.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 ฿52.4
$1.37 MYR 5.52
17.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$1.31 MYR 5.27
-12.98%
Eggs
$1.92 ฿62.6
$2.12 MYR 8.52
-9.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.86 ฿516
$16.71 MYR 67.3
-5.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿97.9
$3.40 MYR 13.72
-11.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 ฿351
$5.73 MYR 23.11
88.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 ฿85.4
$1.66 MYR 6.70
57.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.04
$0.97 MYR 3.92
20.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.69 MYR 6.80
-2.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿50.2
$1.12 MYR 4.51
37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.02
$0.49 MYR 1.96
169.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿39.11
$1.21 MYR 4.88
-0.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.50
$0.72 MYR 2.92
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.33
$0.39 MYR 1.58
43.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$3.89 MYR 15.68
17.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.08 ฿588
$18.30 MYR 73.7
-1.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿59.3
$2.83 MYR 11.41
-35.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ฿109
$1.91 MYR 7.70
74.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ฿30.82
$1.21 MYR 4.87
-21.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿609
$15.69 MYR 63.2
19.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.80
$0.92 MYR 3.70
53.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.44
$0.93 MYR 3.77
44.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.22 ฿267
$2.37 MYR 9.57
246.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿40.01
$0.51 MYR 2.04
141.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K ฿700.6K
$43.0K MYR 173.4K
-49.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K ฿711.2K
$38.1K MYR 153.7K
-42.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.6 ฿2,266
$57.4 MYR 231
21.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.19 ฿462
$9.04 MYR 36.42
56.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.61 ฿573
$29.14 MYR 117
-39.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.49 ฿1,350
$66.5 MYR 268
-37.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79 ฿221
$6.02 MYR 24.27
12.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.93 ฿193
$4.17 MYR 16.81
42.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$300 ฿9,755
$122 MYR 491
146.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿487.8K
$7,128 MYR 28.7K
110.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,816
$61.8 MYR 249
-9.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.91 ฿876
$34.37 MYR 138
-21.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.3 ฿2,807
$75.4 MYR 304
14.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,281
$88.1 MYR 355
-20.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.1K
$216 MYR 870
100.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 ฿7,677
$150 MYR 606
56.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ฿26.2K
$457 MYR 1,842
76.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$506 ฿16.5K
$313 MYR 1,262
61.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,962 ฿63.8K
$1,784 MYR 7,188
9.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,503 ฿48.9K
$1,152 MYR 4,644
30.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bintulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$610 ฿19.9K
$625 MYR 2,520
-2.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.5
11.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 30, 2026

Last update for Bintulu: March 31, 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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