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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $936 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,435 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,933 in Kostanay, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Kostanay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$5.45 ₸2,484

-61.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$28.71 ₸13.1K

-31.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$7.19 ₸3,276

-21.42%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.13 ₸972

-15.02%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.15 ₸522

-38.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.83 ₸378

-61.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.39 ₸634

61.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.53 ₸1,151

43.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.24 ₸565

58.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.48 ₸219

212.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.03 ₸469

30.10%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.20 ₸1,002

2.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$10.03 ₸4,568

62.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.70 ₸2,599

-48.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$8.59 ₸3,913

15.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.58 ₸722

62.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$2.26 ₸1,032

-53.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.88 ₸854

-14.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$2.27 ₸1,034

-33.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.54 ₸246

135.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.62 ₸281

72.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.19 ₸541

-39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.92 ₸417

-44.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.41 ₸1,097

73.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.05 ₸3,669

121.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.10 ₸500

53.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.30 ₸1,047

23.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.32 ₸144

190.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.94 ₸427

30.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.06 ₸484

-45.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.85 ₸2,664

-58.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.54 ₸246

161.11%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$30.6K ₸14.0M

-29.99%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$29.1K ₸13.3M

-6.22%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$75.3 ₸34.3K

-15.48%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$10.72 ₸4,883

19.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$15.65 ₸7,128

29.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$46.28 ₸21.1K

-16.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$19.86 ₸9,048

-80.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$4.20 ₸1,913

60.48%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$207 ₸94.3K

275.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$6,436 ₸2.9M

127.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$92.3 ₸42.0K

-41.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$52.7 ₸24.0K

-51.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$106 ₸48.5K

-11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$89.3 ₸40.7K

-17.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$388 ₸176.9K

26.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$304 ₸138.4K

-4.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$580 ₸264.4K

53.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$471 ₸214.8K

9.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,190 ₸541.9K

64.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$910 ₸414.6K

62.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$646 ₸294.5K

-6.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.5

-69.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $388 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 7% higher in Kostanay, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Kostanay. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $200 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

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Kostanay, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,404 in Kostanay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostanay, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $29.00 in Kostanay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostanay, where all-in costs run around $936, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Kostanay 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. Kostanay costs $936 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 Kostanay. 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.