Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $933 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 60% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Bukit Mertajam 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$3.47 MYR 14.20

-40.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$21.02 MYR 86.0

-6.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.90 MYR 20.04

15.71%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.67 MYR 10.91

-32.21%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.82 MYR 3.36

-6.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.32 MYR 1.32

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.43 MYR 9.96

-9.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.43 MYR 18.14

-14.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$2.16 MYR 8.83

-5.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.07 MYR 4.40

41.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-20.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.58 MYR 10.55

-12.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$15.63 MYR 64.0

3.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.86 MYR 19.89

-40.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$10.02 MYR 41.02

-5.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.33 MYR 9.55

15.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.49 MYR 6.10

-26.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.25 MYR 9.20

-28.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.20 MYR 4.90

21.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.86 MYR 3.54

48.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.80 MYR 3.26

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.71 MYR 2.91

1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.45 MYR 18.19

-4.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$18.98 MYR 77.7

-3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.43 MYR 9.95

-32.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.80 MYR 15.54

-23.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.22 MYR 4.98

-4.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.50 MYR 2.05

16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$4.99 MYR 20.40

-52.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.82 MYR 3.34

76.83%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

-50.33%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

-24.89%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$50.8 MYR 208

25.25%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$8.67 MYR 35.49

48.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$31.31 MYR 128

-34.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.57 MYR 18.72

43.98%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$242 MYR 989

224.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

200.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$53.7 MYR 220

2.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$34.48 MYR 141

-28.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$72.5 MYR 297

29.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$97.2 MYR 398

-23.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$555 MYR 2,270

8.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.2

32.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $259 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($932 vs $583 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Bukit Mertajam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bukit Mertajam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bukit Mertajam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.