Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kota Bharu

For one person, living is cheaper in Kota Bharu: $694 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
33

Cost of Living Index in Kota Bharu
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Kota Bharu Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Kota Bharu

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$694

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kota Bharu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Kota Bharu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $694 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Kota Bharu $694

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,075 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Kota Bharu $1,075

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,455 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Kota Bharu $1,455

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Kota Bharu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Kota Bharu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kota Bharu 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$2.24 MYR 9.12

-4.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$19.43 MYR 79.2

-4.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$4.79 MYR 19.51

16.91%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$2.18 MYR 8.87

-23.85%

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

$0.47 MYR 1.93

38.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.26 MYR 1.05

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

$4.27 MYR 17.40

-45.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$4.34 MYR 17.68

-15.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$1.57 MYR 6.38

28.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.90 MYR 3.67

56.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$0.78 MYR 3.18

78.21%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$1.60 MYR 6.51

48.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$13.48 MYR 55.0

22.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$3.06 MYR 12.49

-12.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$6.52 MYR 26.57

38.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$3.07 MYR 12.52

-21.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$1.45 MYR 5.89

-28.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$2.76 MYR 11.25

-39.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$1.12 MYR 4.58

39.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$0.95 MYR 3.86

30.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$1.10 MYR 4.46

-0.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$1.10 MYR 4.48

-30.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.45 MYR 1.83

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$3.35 MYR 13.66

22.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$19.31 MYR 78.7

-7.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$2.93 MYR 11.93

-44.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$5.45 MYR 22.19

-48.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

$0.76 MYR 3.11

22.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

$12.22 MYR 49.79

332.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$1.77 MYR 7.20

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.41 MYR 1.65

-58.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$3.75 MYR 15.29

-51.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

$0.48 MYR 1.96

206.25%

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

$31.4K MYR 128.1K

-33.17%

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

$29.5K MYR 120.3K

-10.20%

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

$37.70 MYR 154

65.94%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$8.53 MYR 34.74

35.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$26.29 MYR 107

-22.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$48.85 MYR 199

-22.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$4.44 MYR 18.11

46.62%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$122 MYR 497

496.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

$11.6K MYR 47.3K

42.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

$54.7 MYR 223

-2.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$19.81 MYR 80.7

25.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

$80.7 MYR 329

12.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$69.8 MYR 284

3.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$247 MYR 1,007

94.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$123 MYR 502

151.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$676 MYR 2,753

56.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$224 MYR 913

193.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

$296 MYR 1,205

101.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.24

31.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Kota Bharu

$123 17.7% 60.3% $187

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Kota Bharu

$229 33% 3.1% $7.4

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Kota Bharu

$101 14.6% 6.6% $7.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kota Bharu

$73 10.5% 23.2% $22

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Kota Bharu

$91 13.2% 19.3% $15

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Kota Bharu

$19 2.8% 67.5% $40

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Kota Bharu

$58 8.3% 13.4% $6.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $247 in Kota Bharu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $19 in Kota Bharu. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $229 in Kota Bharu – so Kota Bharu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇲🇾 Kota Bharu

🕒 Local time

16:38 4:38 PM

17:38 5:38 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

568,900

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.219 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 4.07 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.57 MYR (1 MYR = 0.219 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Kota Bharu 1,450 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kota Bharu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kota Bharu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Kota Bharu, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,041 in Kota Bharu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kota Bharu, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $247 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Public transport costs about 77% less in Kota Bharu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kota Bharu, where all-in costs run around $694, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Kota Bharu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kota Bharu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Kota Bharu. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.