Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kuala Terengganu Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kuala Terengganu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $706 in Kuala Terengganu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kuala Terengganu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kuala Terengganu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.29 MYR 9.08

-15.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$21.99 MYR 87.2

-15.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.36 MYR 17.30

79.36%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.97 MYR 11.79

-34.34%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.44 MYR 1.75

93.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.27 MYR 1.07

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.57 MYR 14.16

-40.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.86 MYR 19.27

-23.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.54 MYR 6.12

11.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.96 MYR 3.79

69.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.25 MYR 4.95

-8.80%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.05 MYR 8.11

-5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$15.08 MYR 59.8

7.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.40 MYR 17.46

-29.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.68 MYR 38.38

12.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.98 MYR 11.83

-7.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.45 MYR 5.76

-16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.57 MYR 10.20

-36.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.38 MYR 5.47

15.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.24 MYR 4.91

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.33 MYR 5.26

-12.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.05 MYR 4.16

-37.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.52 MYR 2.07

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.36 MYR 17.29

7.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$18.78 MYR 74.5

-0.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.82 MYR 11.19

-36.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.01 MYR 11.93

7.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.74 MYR 2.95

21.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$11.98 MYR 47.50

60.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.20 MYR 4.77

17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.99 MYR 3.91

30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.05 MYR 23.99

29.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.50 MYR 2.00

154.00%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

-39.88%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

-30.63%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$43.46 MYR 172

58.93%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.35 MYR 37.07

50.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$29.66 MYR 118

-39.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$36.44 MYR 144

12.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.79 MYR 22.96

20.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.98 MYR 19.74

18.88%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$184 MYR 730

62.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

112.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$60.9 MYR 242

-10.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$26.86 MYR 106

-0.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$74.2 MYR 294

14.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$51.1 MYR 202

38.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$199 MYR 787

115.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$120 MYR 476

97.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$648 MYR 2,571

23.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$273 MYR 1,084

88.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,973 MYR 7,823

0.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$978 MYR 3,879

50.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$505 MYR 2,001

22.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $250 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kuala Terengganu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Kuala Terengganu, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,059 in Kuala Terengganu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuala Terengganu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $184 in Kuala Terengganu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $706 in Kuala Terengganu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kuala Terengganu costs $706 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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