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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $967 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,401 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,836 in Kostanay, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Kostanay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kostanay 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.71 ₸3,780

-74.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$25.27 ₸12.4K

-26.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.48 ₸3,176

20.68%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.29 ₸1,121

-14.85%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.96 ₸469

-11.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.80 ₸393

-56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.79 ₸879

18.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.34 ₸1,638

11.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.98 ₸481

74.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.44 ₸216

270.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.16 ₸568

-1.72%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.78 ₸873

8.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.12 ₸3,978

99.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.26 ₸2,575

-40.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.00 ₸3,922

36.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.25 ₸614

120.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.00 ₸979

-39.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.30 ₸636

24.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.31 ₸641

21.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.54 ₸265

159.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.24 ₸118

387.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.94 ₸458

-29.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.92 ₸450

-42.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.20 ₸1,079

113.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.80 ₸3,822

139.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.97 ₸473

85.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.69 ₸1,316

20.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.30 ₸148

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.00 ₸490

41.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.07 ₸527

20.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.71 ₸2,797

37.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.49 ₸241

159.18%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$28.9K ₸14.2M

-26.38%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.9K ₸13.2M

-17.38%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$72.4 ₸35.5K

-4.61%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.79 ₸4,797

43.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$11.18 ₸5,479

61.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$39.58 ₸19.4K

3.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$17.76 ₸8,704

-60.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.79 ₸1,859

56.20%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$183 ₸89.7K

63.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,805 ₸2.8M

157.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$105 ₸51.3K

-47.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$56.3 ₸27.6K

-52.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$116 ₸56.8K

-26.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$101 ₸49.3K

-29.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$381 ₸186.5K

12.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$328 ₸160.9K

-27.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$529 ₸259.3K

51.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$427 ₸209.4K

20.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,102 ₸540.3K

79.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$864 ₸423.6K

70.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$605 ₸296.4K

2.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

-72.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $381 in Kostanay. 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 2% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Kostanay. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $173 in Kostanay – so Kostanay 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 Kostanay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kostanay costs about 12% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,451 in Kostanay. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Kostanay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 42% cheaper in Kostanay – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $967 in Kostanay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $967 in Kostanay. 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, Kostanay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.