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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $830 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,328 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,827 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Ekibastuz 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$10.13 ₸4,631

-79.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$36.94 ₸16.9K

-46.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$7.44 ₸3,399

-21.37%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.56 ₸713

12.82%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$1.08 ₸493

-31.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.66 ₸301

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.27 ₸579

94.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.14 ₸979

81.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.25 ₸573

52.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.63 ₸287

165.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.75 ₸799

-22.86%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.20 ₸1,007

-2.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$11.76 ₸5,376

35.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$5.61 ₸2,562

-49.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$10.03 ₸4,582

4.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.73 ₸789

37.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$2.41 ₸1,103

-55.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$2.18 ₸996

-30.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$2.39 ₸1,093

-37.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.78 ₸358

64.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.46 ₸209

139.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.48 ₸679

-53.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.91 ₸416

-46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.15 ₸983

98.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$10.31 ₸4,714

62.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.24 ₸566

33.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.30 ₸1,053

22.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.23 ₸104

291.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.11 ₸507

8.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$1.09 ₸500

-50.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$6.68 ₸3,053

-64.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.55 ₸249

160.00%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$23.5K ₸10.7M

-10.33%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$30.6K ₸14.0M

-11.30%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$66.7 ₸30.5K

-2.95%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$10.26 ₸4,689

28.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$17.37 ₸7,938

11.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$6.07 ₸2,773

9.06%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$368 ₸168.2K

118.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$11.0K ₸5.0M

37.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$66.4 ₸30.3K

-17.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$48.97 ₸22.4K

-48.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$116 ₸53.2K

-21.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$126 ₸57.6K

-40.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$240 ₸109.8K

94.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$180 ₸82.2K

56.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$439 ₸200.9K

102.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$337 ₸154.1K

54.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$321 ₸146.6K

84.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

16.2

-65.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ekibastuz: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $240 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 85% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Ekibastuz. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $223 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 11% more than Ekibastuz, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,244 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $37.00 in Ekibastuz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ekibastuz, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Ekibastuz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ekibastuz costs $830 versus $920 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.