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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $954 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,384 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,813 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 36% lower, Kostanay 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.62 ₸3,583

-74.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$24.91 ₸11.7K

-26.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.33 ₸2,973

18.17%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.30 ₸1,082

-12.17%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.03 ₸483

-17.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.80 ₸377

-55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.72 ₸810

24.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.26 ₸1,531

10.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.95 ₸448

73.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.44 ₸206

256.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.16 ₸545

2.59%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.78 ₸835

8.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.70 ₸3,618

110.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.26 ₸2,473

-43.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.36 ₸3,930

30.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.30 ₸611

108.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.91 ₸899

-38.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.30 ₸612

30.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.29 ₸607

24.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.58 ₸275

137.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.24 ₸113

400.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.96 ₸451

-30.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.87 ₸408

-35.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.21 ₸1,037

109.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.84 ₸3,683

124.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.01 ₸474

84.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.72 ₸1,278

21.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.28 ₸131

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.02 ₸479

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.06 ₸497

26.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.76 ₸2,706

42.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.49 ₸231

148.98%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$29.7K ₸14.0M

-28.06%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$26.1K ₸12.3M

-13.81%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$72.6 ₸34.1K

-2.70%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$9.65 ₸4,537

45.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$10.88 ₸5,112

60.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$39.74 ₸18.7K

6.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$17.31 ₸8,134

-60.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.71 ₸1,743

59.57%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$186 ₸87.3K

66.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,680 ₸2.7M

161.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$105 ₸49.2K

-46.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$56.3 ₸26.5K

-53.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$114 ₸53.6K

-27.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$102 ₸48.1K

-31.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$385 ₸180.8K

12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$330 ₸155.2K

-27.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$529 ₸248.8K

55.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$425 ₸199.7K

20.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,137 ₸534.4K

68.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$899 ₸422.8K

63.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$626 ₸294.4K

-7.49%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $385 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 8% higher in Kostanay, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Kostanay. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $172 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 11% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,432 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 $18.00 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 41% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $954 in Kostanay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $954 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.