Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kangar, Perlis Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kangar, Perlis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $875 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,342 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,808 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kangar, Perlis 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.46 MYR 13.68

-43.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$19.11 MYR 75.5

-1.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.73 MYR 18.70

67.44%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.82 MYR 11.13

-32.27%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.73 MYR 2.87

15.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.45 MYR 13.62

-35.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.89 MYR 19.32

-22.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.82 MYR 7.18

-9.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.99 MYR 3.91

63.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.26 MYR 4.96

-6.35%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.11 MYR 8.32

-4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$15.08 MYR 59.6

5.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.34 MYR 17.13

-30.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.46 MYR 37.35

13.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.84 MYR 11.21

-8.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.47 MYR 5.82

-17.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.51 MYR 9.93

-32.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.43 MYR 5.66

10.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.18 MYR 4.68

11.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.29 MYR 5.09

-9.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.99 MYR 3.92

-32.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.55 MYR 2.18

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.34 MYR 17.13

4.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$17.98 MYR 71.0

1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.82 MYR 11.16

-35.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.97 MYR 11.72

8.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.73 MYR 2.88

21.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$11.58 MYR 45.75

67.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.15 MYR 4.55

17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.99 MYR 3.91

36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$5.95 MYR 23.49

38.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.50 MYR 1.96

154.00%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$35.4K MYR 139.7K

-40.18%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$31.2K MYR 123.3K

-27.97%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$43.03 MYR 170

63.03%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$9.19 MYR 36.31

49.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$28.86 MYR 114

-39.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$37.24 MYR 147

11.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.82 MYR 23.00

13.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.89 MYR 19.32

18.20%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$186 MYR 734

64.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$7,019 MYR 27.7K

111.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$60.0 MYR 237

-9.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.64 MYR 109

-5.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$73.5 MYR 290

15.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$50.6 MYR 200

37.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$388 MYR 1,533

9.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$273 MYR 1,079

-12.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$644 MYR 2,542

28.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$462 MYR 1,825

11.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,676 MYR 6,621

22.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$950 MYR 3,751

60.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $388 in Kangar, Perlis. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $250 – 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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kangar, Perlis costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,312 in Kangar, Perlis. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $186 in Kangar, Perlis. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Kangar, Perlis, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $875 in Kangar, Perlis, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $875 in Kangar, Perlis. 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, Kangar, Perlis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.