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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $921 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,460 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,000 in Karaganda, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Karaganda 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$9.55 ₸4,352

-78.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$34.35 ₸15.6K

-42.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.28 ₸2,406

7.01%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.93 ₸881

-6.22%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.90 ₸410

-21.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.59 ₸269

-45.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.33 ₸607

68.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.90 ₸1,321

25.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.24 ₸566

58.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.44 ₸200

240.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.24 ₸565

8.06%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.75 ₸799

29.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$12.90 ₸5,876

26.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.44 ₸2,477

-45.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$10.80 ₸4,922

-7.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.50 ₸682

71.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.93 ₸880

-45.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.76 ₸1,257

-41.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.06 ₸938

-26.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.65 ₸296

95.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.53 ₸242

101.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$1.00 ₸458

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.71 ₸325

-28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.19 ₸998

91.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.93 ₸3,613

125.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.32 ₸600

28.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.06 ₸938

37.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.21 ₸95.4

342.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$14.94 ₸6,805

260.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.22 ₸554

0.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.21 ₸553

-52.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$3.27 ₸1,488

-25.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.54 ₸247

161.11%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$21.5K ₸9.8M

-0.19%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$31.0K ₸14.1M

-11.75%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$71.2 ₸32.4K

-10.56%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$9.80 ₸4,464

31.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$11.80 ₸5,374

71.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$44.26 ₸20.2K

-12.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$18.14 ₸8,265

-78.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.18 ₸2,361

30.12%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$129 ₸58.6K

504.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$58.8 ₸26.8K

-7.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$58.0 ₸26.4K

-56.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$75.2 ₸34.2K

25.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$85.9 ₸39.1K

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$392 ₸178.3K

25.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$269 ₸122.6K

7.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$709 ₸323.1K

25.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$533 ₸242.7K

-2.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,027 ₸467.7K

90.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$706 ₸321.7K

109.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$565 ₸257.4K

6.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.25

-71.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $392 in Karaganda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Karaganda. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $210 in Karaganda – so Karaganda wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Karaganda, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,381 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $129 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $921, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karaganda costs $921 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Karaganda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.