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 5.1% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 31.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 17% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 15.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿63.8
$1.79 MYR 7.02
13.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿585
$20.94 MYR 82.3
-11.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿235
$4.26 MYR 16.74
75.59%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿62.8
$2.29 MYR 9.01
-12.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.63
$0.49 MYR 1.91
73.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.05
$0.27 MYR 1.06
29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.5
$4.36 MYR 17.14
-49.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$4.25 MYR 16.71
-11.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.0
$1.50 MYR 5.90
14.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.4
$0.75 MYR 2.95
117.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.42
$0.83 MYR 3.24
39.76%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.2
$1.47 MYR 5.80
34.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿501
$14.82 MYR 58.2
7.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.6
$2.92 MYR 11.48
8.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿343
$5.96 MYR 23.43
82.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.2
$1.38 MYR 5.44
92.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.45
$1.38 MYR 5.42
-11.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.4
$1.40 MYR 5.49
21.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.99
$0.85 MYR 3.33
87.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.63
$0.84 MYR 3.29
57.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.74
$1.21 MYR 4.76
-3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.31
$0.95 MYR 3.72
-28.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.52
$0.43 MYR 1.70
30.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$2.94 MYR 11.57
53.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿600
$19.73 MYR 77.5
-3.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$1.42 MYR 5.60
24.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100.0
$3.40 MYR 13.37
-6.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.27
$0.69 MYR 2.73
39.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿594
$11.91 MYR 46.82
58.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.69
$0.72 MYR 2.84
88.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.51
$0.54 MYR 2.13
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$3.59 MYR 14.11
123.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.08
$0.46 MYR 1.82
169.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿665.4K
$30.5K MYR 119.8K
-30.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿684.0K
$27.7K MYR 108.9K
-21.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,240
$38.69 MYR 152
84.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿443
$8.28 MYR 32.55
70.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿549
$26.70 MYR 105
-34.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,323
$36.78 MYR 145
14.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿216
$6.06 MYR 23.83
13.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$4.14 MYR 16.27
43.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,664
$118 MYR 463
160.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.1K
$6,225 MYR 24.5K
137.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,750
$52.3 MYR 206
6.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿842
$18.74 MYR 73.6
42.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,617
$60.6 MYR 238
37.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,204
$53.2 MYR 209
31.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.4K
$261 MYR 1,024
64.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,454
$140 MYR 551
69.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.2K
$852 MYR 3,349
-5.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.8K
$481 MYR 1,889
4.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿64.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$305 MYR 1,199
114.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.16
20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: February 28, 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

Similar cities