🙂A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $869 in Kedah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,333 in Kedah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,797 in Kedah, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Kedah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Kedah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Kedah35% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$3.10MYR 12.26
-36.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$20.93MYR 82.7
-10.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$4.12MYR 16.26
92.23%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$2.92MYR 11.52
-34.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.74MYR 2.91
13.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.36MYR 1.44
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$4.29MYR 16.95
-48.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$4.53MYR 17.91
-16.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.81MYR 7.16
-9.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.92MYR 3.65
76.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$1.21MYR 4.78
-2.48%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$2.06MYR 8.15
-2.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$14.78MYR 58.4
7.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$4.98MYR 19.67
-39.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$14.83MYR 58.6
-27.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$2.78MYR 10.99
-6.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.20MYR 4.76
1.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$2.71MYR 10.70
-37.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$2.15MYR 8.51
-26.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$1.17MYR 4.64
12.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$1.18MYR 4.64
-0.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.95MYR 3.74
-29.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.45MYR 1.77
24.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$4.32MYR 17.08
4.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$19.89MYR 78.6
-8.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$2.69MYR 10.61
-31.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$3.54MYR 13.96
-8.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.68MYR 2.70
30.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$11.59MYR 45.78
67.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.72MYR 2.86
87.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.47MYR 1.85
187.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$6.96MYR 27.49
18.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$0.49MYR 1.94
159.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$33.7KMYR 133.3K
-37.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$27.2KMYR 107.4K
-17.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$37.91MYR 150
85.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$10.09MYR 39.84
36.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$11.64MYR 45.97
51.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$37.47MYR 148
10.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$5.95MYR 23.49
10.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$2.77MYR 10.95
108.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$238MYR 942
28.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$6,226MYR 24.6K
138.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$54.7MYR 216
-0.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$29.36MYR 116
-10.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$61.0MYR 241
38.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$52.8MYR 208
31.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$394MYR 1,558
7.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$265MYR 1,046
-10.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$656MYR 2,590
25.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$470MYR 1,858
9.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$1,947MYR 7,692
5.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$795MYR 3,142
91.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kedah
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$1,390MYR 5,491
-54.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.16
20.19%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Kedah: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $394 in Kedah. 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 119% higher in Kedah, 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 $21.00 in Kedah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $272 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Chiang Mai vs Kedah: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kedah?
Kedah costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Kedah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,303 in Kedah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kedah?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Kedah?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $238 in Kedah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Kedah?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Kedah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Kedah?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $869 in Kedah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kedah?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $869 in Kedah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kedah?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Kedah?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kedah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado