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: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 30% 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.86 MYR 7.58

9.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$20.07 MYR 81.9

-6.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.79 MYR 15.48

107.39%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.26 MYR 9.22

-10.18%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.72 MYR 2.96

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.34 MYR 1.37

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$3.03 MYR 12.39

-29.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$4.84 MYR 19.76

-24.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.60 MYR 6.55

8.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.12 MYR 4.57

40.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.56 MYR 2.29

114.29%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.90 MYR 7.74

3.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$22.77 MYR 93.0

-28.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.98 MYR 20.35

-38.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$10.62 MYR 43.38

1.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$4.01 MYR 16.38

-30.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.73 MYR 7.05

-32.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.44 MYR 14.04

-50.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.53 MYR 10.32

-37.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-18.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.99 MYR 4.06

17.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.12 MYR 4.59

-41.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.33 MYR 1.36

57.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.22 MYR 17.23

10.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$18.26 MYR 74.6

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-57.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.64 MYR 10.77

26.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.68 MYR 2.79

33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$11.99 MYR 48.97

55.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.15 MYR 4.68

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.13 MYR 4.62

18.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$4.22 MYR 17.25

92.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.50 MYR 2.04

146.00%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

-51.18%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

-29.17%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$26.62 MYR 109

167.96%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$9.67 MYR 39.47

44.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$28.14 MYR 115

-36.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$36.80 MYR 150

10.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.98 MYR 24.43

15.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.29 MYR 17.54

33.33%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$117 MYR 477

163.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

246.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$11.65 MYR 47.56

378.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$64.7 MYR 264

-59.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$23.16 MYR 94.6

266.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$78.6 MYR 321

-9.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$388 MYR 1,583

9.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$59.9 MYR 245

304.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$637 MYR 2,599

25.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$478 MYR 1,954

5.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$555 MYR 2,267

7.15%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $388 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 7% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $298 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 30% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $656 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 7% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $388 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam – a 30% 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 30% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.