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 9% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 34.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 29% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 15.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.4

$1.76 MYR 6.95

14.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿583

$20.93 MYR 82.7

-12.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿244

$4.20 MYR 16.59

82.14%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.3

$2.31 MYR 9.14

-16.88%

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

$0.84 ฿26.90

$0.46 MYR 1.81

82.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.39

$0.25 MYR 0.99

44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.0

$4.27 MYR 16.88

-48.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$4.28 MYR 16.92

-11.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.4

$1.49 MYR 5.88

10.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.8

$0.77 MYR 3.03

110.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.88

$0.77 MYR 3.05

49.35%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.0

$1.48 MYR 5.85

31.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿510

$15.12 MYR 59.7

5.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.2

$2.96 MYR 11.71

4.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿354

$6.21 MYR 24.55

78.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.5

$1.43 MYR 5.65

89.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.69

$1.45 MYR 5.73

-18.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.5

$1.38 MYR 5.46

23.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.3

$0.90 MYR 3.55

78.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.53

$0.81 MYR 3.22

71.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.70

$1.20 MYR 4.75

-4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.76

$0.95 MYR 3.74

-25.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.60

$0.40 MYR 1.59

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$3.04 MYR 12.01

50.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿603

$19.44 MYR 76.8

-2.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.2

$1.39 MYR 5.50

30.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$3.39 MYR 13.40

-5.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.16

$0.70 MYR 2.75

25.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿604

$11.85 MYR 46.80

59.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.17

$0.70 MYR 2.76

101.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.59

$0.53 MYR 2.10

145.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿262

$3.60 MYR 14.22

127.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.18

$0.50 MYR 1.99

146.00%

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

$21.2K ฿677.0K

$30.1K MYR 119.0K

-29.74%

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

$22.3K ฿713.3K

$27.2K MYR 107.5K

-18.04%

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

$69.9 ฿2,234

$39.15 MYR 155

78.47%

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

$14.07 ฿450

$8.41 MYR 33.22

67.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿566

$26.11 MYR 103

-32.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,324

$37.05 MYR 146

11.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿214

$5.84 MYR 23.08

14.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$4.27 MYR 16.87

34.43%

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

$299 ฿9,566

$119 MYR 470

151.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿479.8K

$6,291 MYR 24.8K

138.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,753

$52.2 MYR 206

4.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿842

$18.77 MYR 74.1

40.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,706

$61.6 MYR 243

37.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,229

$52.6 MYR 208

32.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.6K

$264 MYR 1,044

61.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,697

$140 MYR 553

71.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.9K

$860 MYR 3,395

-5.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿15.9K

$476 MYR 1,880

4.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.4K

$304 MYR 1,199

110.59%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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