Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kota Bharu Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kota Bharu

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 22.4% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 33.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 17.7% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 19.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿62.8

$1.73 MYR 7.3

12.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.36 ฿594

$21.27 MYR 89.7

-13.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 ฿252

$4.31 MYR 18.17

80.51%

Cappuccino

$1.96 ฿63.3

$2.3 MYR 9.71

-14.78%

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

$0.83 ฿27.01

$0.45 MYR 1.91

84.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.25 MYR 1.05

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.1 ฿67.9

$4.28 MYR 18.04

-50.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿121

$4.33 MYR 18.25

-13.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ฿54.8

$1.57 MYR 6.62

7.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿52.6

$0.82 MYR 3.45

98.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.2 ฿38.83

$0.84 MYR 3.53

42.86%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.5

$1.54 MYR 6.51

29.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.97 ฿517

$14.97 MYR 63.1

6.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 ฿102

$2.98 MYR 12.57

5.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿354

$6.3 MYR 26.56

73.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿86.6

$1.39 MYR 5.86

92.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.97

$1.39 MYR 5.84

-15.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿52.6

$1.39 MYR 5.85

17.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.78

$0.91 MYR 3.82

69.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.23

$0.78 MYR 3.28

71.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.78

$1.2 MYR 5.04

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.52

$0.89 MYR 3.75

-24.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.09

$0.43 MYR 1.82

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿148

$3 MYR 12.66

52.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿596

$14.53 MYR 61.3

26.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$1.37 MYR 5.79

30.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 ฿106

$3.39 MYR 14.29

-3.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿31.19

$0.69 MYR 2.92

39.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.98 ฿614

$11.85 MYR 49.96

60.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.78

$0.74 MYR 3.1

82.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.3 ฿42.14

$0.5 MYR 2.1

160.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.24 ฿267

$3.55 MYR 14.99

132.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.97

$0.46 MYR 1.95

169.57%

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

$21.6K ฿699.5K

$30.6K MYR 128.9K

-29.27%

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

$21.8K ฿706.1K

$27.2K MYR 114.8K

-19.86%

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

$70.2 ฿2,272

$38.87 MYR 164

80.65%

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

$14.18 ฿459

$8.42 MYR 35.51

68.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.88 ฿579

$26.34 MYR 111

-32.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.29 ฿1,369

$36.19 MYR 153

16.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 ฿218

$5.95 MYR 25.1

13.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.7 ฿185

$4.34 MYR 18.29

31.34%

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

$308 ฿9,969

$117 MYR 494

163.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿487.6K

$6,202 MYR 26.2K

142.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ฿1,822

$53.4 MYR 225

5.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.3 ฿851

$18.9 MYR 79.7

39.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,742

$62.3 MYR 263

36.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,336

$52.3 MYR 221

37.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14.1K

$255 MYR 1,074

70.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ฿7,854

$139 MYR 585

74.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$807 ฿26.1K

$871 MYR 3,672

-7.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 ฿16.2K

$472 MYR 1,990

5.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,195 ฿71K

$1,736 MYR 7,321

26.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,560 ฿50.5K

$1,157 MYR 4,880

34.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$683 ฿22.1K

$323 MYR 1,363

111.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Kota Bharu: November 5, 2025

Similar cities

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

Bansko

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Cebu

🇵🇭 Philippines

Almaty

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

Bogota

🇨🇴 Colombia

Beijing (Pekin)

🇨🇳 China

Rio de Janeiro

🇧🇷 Brazil

Nairobi

🇰🇪 Kenya