Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kajang, Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kajang, Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $939 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,414 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,889 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kajang, Selangor 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.64 MYR 14.85

-42.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$21.82 MYR 89.1

-10.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.78 MYR 19.51

18.62%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.88 MYR 11.75

-37.15%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.80 MYR 3.25

-3.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.44 MYR 1.80

-20.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.38 MYR 17.87

-49.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$6.10 MYR 24.88

-37.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.67 MYR 6.80

22.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.06 MYR 4.34

42.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.43 MYR 5.82

-2.10%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.75 MYR 7.14

29.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$18.09 MYR 73.8

-10.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.68 MYR 19.10

-38.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.00 MYR 40.83

-5.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.26 MYR 13.32

-17.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.67 MYR 6.84

-34.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.42 MYR 9.89

-33.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.67 MYR 6.83

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.32 MYR 5.41

-3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.72 MYR 7.03

-38.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-37.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.55 MYR 2.23

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.21 MYR 17.17

0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$13.96 MYR 57.0

31.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.89 MYR 11.79

-43.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.15 MYR 12.85

-7.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.78 MYR 3.17

12.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$12.11 MYR 49.42

344.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.21 MYR 4.95

-3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.76 MYR 3.11

-23.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$5.05 MYR 20.60

-52.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.76 MYR 3.10

90.79%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$41.7K MYR 170.2K

-49.60%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$34.6K MYR 141.4K

-23.69%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$53.6 MYR 219

18.86%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$10.09 MYR 41.19

27.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$25.82 MYR 105

-20.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$45.02 MYR 184

-13.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$7.07 MYR 28.87

-44.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.78 MYR 19.51

37.66%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$218 MYR 890

259.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$4,492 MYR 18.3K

226.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$67.1 MYR 274

-17.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$16.55 MYR 67.6

49.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$81.0 MYR 331

16.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$40.77 MYR 166

81.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$460 MYR 1,877

6.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$284 MYR 1,158

1.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$642 MYR 2,622

38.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$429 MYR 1,750

21.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,207 MYR 9,012

-10.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,075 MYR 4,387

34.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.06

37.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $460 in Kajang, Selangor. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $259 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kajang, Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kajang, Selangor costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,409 in Kajang, Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $218 in Kajang, Selangor. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Kajang, Selangor, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Kajang, Selangor at $939. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kajang, Selangor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $939 in Kajang, Selangor. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kajang, Selangor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.