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 10.7% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 31% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.8% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 16.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$1.78 MYR 7.24

10.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$21.13 MYR 85.8

-11.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$4.22 MYR 17.12

87.68%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$2.40 MYR 9.73

-15.83%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.49 MYR 2.00

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.27 MYR 1.10

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$4.27 MYR 17.34

-48.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$4.36 MYR 17.70

-17.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$1.56 MYR 6.32

7.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$0.75 MYR 3.04

116.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$0.84 MYR 3.39

42.86%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$1.54 MYR 6.25

25.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$15.20 MYR 61.7

5.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$2.96 MYR 12.01

6.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$6.30 MYR 25.59

73.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$1.42 MYR 5.78

88.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$1.44 MYR 5.87

-18.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$1.45 MYR 5.87

13.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

$0.84 MYR 3.42

89.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$0.82 MYR 3.31

60.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$1.21 MYR 4.93

-1.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

$0.97 MYR 3.95

-26.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.40 MYR 1.63

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$3.06 MYR 12.43

51.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$19.27 MYR 78.2

-1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$1.40 MYR 5.67

26.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$3.43 MYR 13.93

-6.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

$0.73 MYR 2.96

23.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

$11.83 MYR 48.02

62.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

$0.73 MYR 2.98

86.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

$0.50 MYR 2.03

170.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$3.51 MYR 14.26

132.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

$0.46 MYR 1.88

165.22%

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

$31.0K MYR 125.9K

-31.11%

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

$27.7K MYR 112.5K

-21.50%

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$38.23 MYR 155

83.89%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$8.28 MYR 33.60

68.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$26.57 MYR 108

-32.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

$36.55 MYR 148

14.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

$5.88 MYR 23.86

15.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$4.33 MYR 17.59

32.10%

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

$308 ฿9,693

$120 MYR 486

157.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

$6,149 MYR 25.0K

140.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

$52.8 MYR 214

5.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

$19.22 MYR 78.0

38.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

$61.0 MYR 248

38.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

$53.0 MYR 215

33.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

$258 MYR 1,049

66.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

$143 MYR 580

65.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

$847 MYR 3,438

-4.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

$473 MYR 1,920

5.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

$297 MYR 1,207

130.14%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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