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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 0.9% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 1.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 21.9% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$2.65 MYR 10.48
-24.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$19.14 MYR 75.6
-4.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$3.85 MYR 15.19
98.70%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$2.27 MYR 8.95
-15.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.73 MYR 2.88
15.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.37 MYR 1.45
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$3.49 MYR 13.78
-37.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$4.35 MYR 17.18
-12.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.82 MYR 7.20
-9.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$0.99 MYR 3.90
63.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$1.36 MYR 5.37
-15.44%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.85 MYR 7.29
4.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$12.83 MYR 50.7
24.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$5.34 MYR 21.10
-41.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$7.66 MYR 30.24
44.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$2.90 MYR 11.45
-6.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$1.81 MYR 7.14
-34.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$3.06 MYR 12.09
-44.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$2.03 MYR 8.04
-20.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$1.45 MYR 5.71
-4.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$1.36 MYR 5.35
-15.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$1.64 MYR 6.50
-56.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.46 MYR 1.80
19.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$4.31 MYR 17.02
6.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$17.84 MYR 70.5
5.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$3.40 MYR 13.45
-46.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$4.33 MYR 17.10
-25.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.73 MYR 2.90
20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$11.55 MYR 45.61
63.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$1.21 MYR 4.79
16.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$1.14 MYR 4.51
14.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$4.29 MYR 16.93
91.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$0.50 MYR 1.97
146.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$43.5K MYR 171.8K
-51.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$31.6K MYR 124.6K
-29.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$64.7 MYR 256
7.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$9.68 MYR 38.24
45.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$28.50 MYR 113
-37.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$23.92 MYR 94.5
73.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$6.04 MYR 23.86
10.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$3.03 MYR 11.97
89.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$117 MYR 461
156.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$2,380 MYR 9,400
530.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$59.8 MYR 236
-8.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$27.29 MYR 108
-3.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$75.1 MYR 297
12.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$53.7 MYR 212
29.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$380 MYR 1,503
12.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$267 MYR 1,056
-9.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$647 MYR 2,556
25.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$478 MYR 1,887
4.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ipoh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$972 MYR 3,840
-34.26%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Ipoh: April 13, 2026

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

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