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: $848 in Chiang Mai versus $655 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,331 in Chiang Mai versus $1,209 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in Chiang Mai versus $1,762 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 29% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.1

$1.91 MYR 7.86

2.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$20.38 MYR 83.9

-9.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$3.85 MYR 15.83

104.42%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.24 MYR 9.22

-12.95%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.74 MYR 3.04

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.34 MYR 1.39

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$3.12 MYR 12.85

-31.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$4.81 MYR 19.80

-23.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.63 MYR 6.69

1.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$1.08 MYR 4.46

44.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$0.57 MYR 2.33

108.77%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$1.89 MYR 7.78

5.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$22.11 MYR 91.0

-26.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$4.88 MYR 20.06

-35.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$10.49 MYR 43.17

3.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$3.84 MYR 15.79

-30.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$1.72 MYR 7.08

-29.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$3.36 MYR 13.82

-50.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$2.57 MYR 10.59

-39.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$1.74 MYR 7.16

-23.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$0.99 MYR 4.09

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$1.08 MYR 4.43

-37.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.36 MYR 1.49

58.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$4.23 MYR 17.40

10.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$19.10 MYR 78.6

-11.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$4.40 MYR 18.09

-58.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$2.52 MYR 10.36

26.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.70 MYR 2.86

30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$11.73 MYR 48.26

59.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$1.16 MYR 4.78

21.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$1.14 MYR 4.68

17.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$4.28 MYR 17.60

90.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$0.50 MYR 2.05

156.00%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$43.8K MYR 180.3K

-50.18%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$31.4K MYR 129.1K

-28.58%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$26.82 MYR 110

162.79%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$9.94 MYR 40.90

41.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$28.83 MYR 119

-38.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$36.64 MYR 151

12.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$6.02 MYR 24.78

12.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$4.34 MYR 17.87

37.33%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$116 MYR 476

161.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

$4,404 MYR 18.1K

239.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$11.90 MYR 48.95

359.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$63.5 MYR 261

-58.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$23.75 MYR 97.7

261.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$77.5 MYR 319

-10.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$394 MYR 1,619

8.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$59.2 MYR 244

303.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$643 MYR 2,644

26.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$473 MYR 1,947

7.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$953 MYR 3,922

-34.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

26.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $394 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 53% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $296 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 29% in total monthly costs ($848 vs $655 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Bukit Mertajam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $394 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bukit Mertajam – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $848 per month in Chiang Mai versus $655 in Bukit Mertajam – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bukit Mertajam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 29% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.