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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 9.2% cheaper than Ipoh without rent, and 0.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 11.4% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$2.64 MYR 11.12
-23.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$19 MYR 80.1
-1.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$3.73 MYR 15.71
105.63%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.23 MYR 9.39
-11.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.78 MYR 3.29
5.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.36 MYR 1.52
-8.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$3.5 MYR 14.78
-39.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$4.54 MYR 19.13
-17.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.91 MYR 8.04
-14.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.04 MYR 4.37
50.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.32 MYR 5.56
-9.85%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.89 MYR 7.95
4.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$12.87 MYR 54.3
24.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.25 MYR 22.15
-40.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$7.79 MYR 32.83
43.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.88 MYR 12.12
-4.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.78 MYR 7.53
-31.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.05 MYR 12.87
-43.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$2.09 MYR 8.8
-25.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.5 MYR 6.33
-10.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.33 MYR 5.62
-9.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.65 MYR 6.95
-56.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.46 MYR 1.94
15.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$4.13 MYR 17.4
14.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$16.43 MYR 69.3
11.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$3.51 MYR 14.82
-49.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$4.27 MYR 18
-24.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.74 MYR 3.12
27.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$11.83 MYR 49.9
59.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.15 MYR 4.83
23.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.13 MYR 4.78
19.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$4.38 MYR 18.46
79.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.46 MYR 1.93
171.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$43.7K MYR 184.1K
-51.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$31.1K MYR 131.2K
-29.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$64.5 MYR 272
9.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$9.63 MYR 40.59
42.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$28.28 MYR 119
-37.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$23.18 MYR 97.7
79.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$6.03 MYR 25.43
14.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.02 MYR 12.75
92.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$119 MYR 503
157.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$2,370 MYR 9,994
520.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$58.1 MYR 245
-4.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$27.54 MYR 116
-4.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$74.1 MYR 313
14.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$52.1 MYR 220
37.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$392 MYR 1,653
10.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$267 MYR 1,125
-11.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$657 MYR 2,770
25.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$474 MYR 2,000
5.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,585 MYR 6,684
37.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,229 MYR 5,185
25.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$932 MYR 3,929
-24.51%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ipoh: October 29, 2025

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