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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 3.6% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 8.8% cheaper than Ipoh without rent, and 3.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$2.55 MYR 10.04
-20.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$18.97 MYR 74.8
-2.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$3.79 MYR 14.95
97.36%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$2.32 MYR 9.13
-13.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.77 MYR 3.03
10.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.34 MYR 1.33
2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$3.64 MYR 14.34
-39.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$4.60 MYR 18.11
-18.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.84 MYR 7.25
-6.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$1.03 MYR 4.05
58.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$1.29 MYR 5.09
-10.08%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$1.85 MYR 7.28
7.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$12.98 MYR 51.2
22.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$5.13 MYR 20.22
-38.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$7.73 MYR 30.44
41.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$2.87 MYR 11.30
-7.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$1.72 MYR 6.78
-29.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$2.98 MYR 11.74
-42.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$2.02 MYR 7.94
-21.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$1.44 MYR 5.66
-8.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$1.34 MYR 5.28
-12.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$1.58 MYR 6.23
-56.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.42 MYR 1.65
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$4.19 MYR 16.51
7.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$17.62 MYR 69.4
8.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$3.46 MYR 13.61
-48.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$4.26 MYR 16.79
-25.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.69 MYR 2.73
39.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$11.96 MYR 47.13
58.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$1.15 MYR 4.55
18.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$1.13 MYR 4.46
19.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$4.42 MYR 17.43
81.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$0.50 MYR 1.97
148.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$43.9K MYR 173.1K
-51.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$31.2K MYR 122.8K
-30.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$64.2 MYR 253
10.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$9.34 MYR 36.80
50.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$28.58 MYR 113
-38.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$23.38 MYR 92.1
79.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$5.93 MYR 23.36
16.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$3.11 MYR 12.26
91.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$117 MYR 461
162.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$2,325 MYR 9,160
536.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$59.6 MYR 235
-6.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$27.28 MYR 108
-1.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$76.0 MYR 299
9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$52.2 MYR 206
34.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$381 MYR 1,503
12.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$270 MYR 1,065
-12.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$637 MYR 2,509
25.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$478 MYR 1,883
5.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$973 MYR 3,832
-32.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3.96
26.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Ipoh: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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