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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $944 in Kedah, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,853 in Kedah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Kedah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Kedah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kedah 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$3.51 MYR 14.38

-40.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$12.36 MYR 50.6

58.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.03 MYR 20.58

12.72%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.66 MYR 10.91

-31.95%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.91 MYR 3.74

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.33 MYR 1.34

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.41 MYR 9.87

-8.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.29 MYR 17.56

-11.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$2.43 MYR 9.95

-15.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.36 MYR 5.57

11.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.76 MYR 7.20

-20.45%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.62 MYR 10.71

-13.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$15.65 MYR 64.0

3.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.90 MYR 20.07

-40.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$9.56 MYR 39.14

-1.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.36 MYR 9.65

13.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-24.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.28 MYR 9.32

-28.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.25 MYR 5.13

16.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.91 MYR 3.74

40.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.79 MYR 3.23

34.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.77 MYR 3.17

-6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.65 MYR 2.66

-18.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.66 MYR 19.08

-9.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$21.25 MYR 87.0

-13.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.49 MYR 10.18

-34.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.63 MYR 14.85

-20.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.74 MYR 3.04

18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$11.77 MYR 48.18

356.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.22 MYR 4.99

-4.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.50 MYR 2.06

16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$6.64 MYR 27.19

-64.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.60 MYR 2.45

141.67%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$41.8K MYR 171.1K

-49.75%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$28.8K MYR 117.7K

-8.11%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$50.7 MYR 207

25.67%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$7.98 MYR 32.64

61.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$32.15 MYR 132

-36.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$39.87 MYR 163

-2.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$5.78 MYR 23.67

-32.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.81 MYR 19.69

36.80%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$171 MYR 698

359.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$4,987 MYR 20.4K

194.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$54.5 MYR 223

1.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$35.20 MYR 144

-29.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$72.3 MYR 296

30.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$69.5 MYR 284

6.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$416 MYR 1,701

17.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$320 MYR 1,311

-10.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$693 MYR 2,837

28.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$451 MYR 1,847

15.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,745 MYR 7,141

13.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,006 MYR 4,117

43.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,329 MYR 5,440

-54.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.43

25.73%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kedah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $416 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 121% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Kedah. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $269 in Kedah – so Chiang Mai 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 Kedah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kedah costs about 1% 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 $1,416 in Kedah. 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 $171 in Kedah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Kedah at $944. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kedah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $944 in Kedah. 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, Kedah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.