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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $954 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,396 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,838 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kangar, Perlis 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.79 MYR 15.48

-45.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$20.49 MYR 83.6

-4.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.85 MYR 19.80

16.91%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.68 MYR 10.95

-32.46%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.71 MYR 2.90

8.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.40 MYR 1.62

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.15 MYR 16.95

-46.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$4.76 MYR 19.44

-20.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.84 MYR 7.53

11.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.10 MYR 4.50

37.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.55 MYR 6.35

-9.68%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.99 MYR 8.13

13.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$12.28 MYR 50.1

31.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.39 MYR 17.90

-33.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.77 MYR 39.90

-3.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.30 MYR 13.45

-18.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.71 MYR 7.00

-36.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.67 MYR 10.88

-39.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.84 MYR 7.50

-20.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.10 MYR 4.49

16.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.23 MYR 5.03

-13.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.01 MYR 4.12

-28.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.49 MYR 2.01

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.85 MYR 19.78

-12.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$20.05 MYR 81.8

-8.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-45.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$4.03 MYR 16.43

-28.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.74 MYR 3.00

18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$11.21 MYR 45.76

379.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.05 MYR 4.30

11.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.48 MYR 1.94

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$7.86 MYR 32.10

-69.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.84 MYR 3.44

72.62%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$47.0K MYR 192.0K

-55.32%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$34.1K MYR 139.4K

-22.60%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$44.65 MYR 182

42.55%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$9.56 MYR 39.02

34.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$25.71 MYR 105

-20.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$46.17 MYR 188

-15.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$7.45 MYR 30.39

-47.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.18 MYR 21.14

27.03%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$192 MYR 785

307.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$5,435 MYR 22.2K

169.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$65.0 MYR 265

-15.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$30.04 MYR 123

-17.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$88.6 MYR 362

6.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$65.2 MYR 266

13.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$421 MYR 1,720

16.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$330 MYR 1,348

-12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$584 MYR 2,383

52.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$494 MYR 2,018

5.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,783 MYR 7,281

10.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,067 MYR 4,357

35.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.2

32.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $421 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $257 – 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 2% 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 $1,431 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $192 in Kangar, Perlis. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Kangar, Perlis at $954. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kangar, Perlis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $954 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.