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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $752 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,187 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,623 in Karaganda, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.53 ₸4,180

-77.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$29.67 ₸14.5K

-37.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.97 ₸2,437

57.34%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.85 ₸907

5.41%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.70 ₸343

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.47 ₸228

-25.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.95 ₸467

124.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.01 ₸1,473

23.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.94 ₸463

81.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.44 ₸215

270.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.30 ₸638

-12.31%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.73 ₸845

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.48 ₸4,644

70.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.24 ₸2,079

-26.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.25 ₸3,555

50.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.32 ₸646

108.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.45 ₸711

-16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.89 ₸929

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.98 ₸971

-19.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.56 ₸273

150.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.41 ₸200

185.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.99 ₸486

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.76 ₸372

-30.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.79 ₸878

162.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.87 ₸3,857

137.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.99 ₸487

81.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.65 ₸807

95.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.22 ₸108

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$11.56 ₸5,666

66.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.78 ₸872

-20.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.45 ₸222

186.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.38 ₸2,148

79.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.45 ₸219

182.22%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$19.0K ₸9.3M

11.94%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.1K ₸12.3M

-11.52%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$53.9 ₸26.4K

28.14%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$8.04 ₸3,941

75.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.00 ₸6,372

38.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$32.29 ₸15.8K

27.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.76 ₸5,764

-40.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.47 ₸2,191

32.44%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$240 ₸117.4K

24.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,875 ₸2.4M

206.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$55.6 ₸27.2K

-1.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$35.64 ₸17.5K

-24.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$86.6 ₸42.5K

-1.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$83.9 ₸41.1K

-15.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$333 ₸163.0K

28.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$210 ₸102.9K

13.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$569 ₸279.0K

40.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$400 ₸195.8K

29.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$977 ₸478.5K

102.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$653 ₸319.8K

126.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$523 ₸256.2K

18.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

-68.98%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $333 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 18% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Karaganda. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $170 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 15% more than Karaganda, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,127 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $240 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $752 in Karaganda, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karaganda costs $752 versus $866 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.