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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $714 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,553 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ekibastuz 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$8.49 ₸4,147

-76.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$29.01 ₸14.2K

-35.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.79 ₸2,827

33.85%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.35 ₸657

42.22%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.89 ₸436

-11.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.57 ₸280

-36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.19 ₸580

85.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.99 ₸1,462

22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.94 ₸461

75.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.50 ₸243

226.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.40 ₸682

-15.00%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.76 ₸858

13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.39 ₸4,585

70.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.72 ₸2,306

-35.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.99 ₸3,412

55.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.32 ₸644

109.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.82 ₸891

-35.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.91 ₸933

-14.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.98 ₸969

-23.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.60 ₸292

130.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.40 ₸195

197.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.96 ₸471

-27.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.70 ₸342

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.82 ₸889

151.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$9.15 ₸4,471

80.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.01 ₸495

81.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.61 ₸788

98.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.23 ₸113

282.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.95 ₸465

43.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.67 ₸329

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.46 ₸2,177

75.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.41 ₸198

200.00%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$20.7K ₸10.1M

4.65%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$25.3K ₸12.4M

-10.84%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$54.3 ₸26.5K

30.00%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$8.45 ₸4,126

61.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.67 ₸6,675

27.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$32.67 ₸16.0K

26.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.15 ₸2,515

12.04%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$238 ₸116.1K

29.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$4,880 ₸2.4M

199.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$57.6 ₸28.1K

-3.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$34.66 ₸16.9K

-24.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$88.9 ₸43.4K

-3.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$88.2 ₸43.1K

-18.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$212 ₸103.4K

102.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$160 ₸78.3K

48.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$394 ₸192.4K

107.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$304 ₸148.3K

68.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$916 ₸447.5K

116.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$829 ₸405.0K

78.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$305 ₸148.9K

103.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

-68.98%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ekibastuz: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $212 in Ekibastuz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 103% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Ekibastuz. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Ekibastuz – so Ekibastuz wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ekibastuz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Ekibastuz, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,070 in Ekibastuz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ekibastuz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $29.00 in Ekibastuz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $714 in Ekibastuz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ekibastuz costs $714 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ekibastuz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.