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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $976 in Kuala Terengganu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,436 in Kuala Terengganu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,897 in Kuala Terengganu, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Kuala Terengganu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kuala Terengganu 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$2.50 MYR 10.12

-16.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$23.34 MYR 94.4

-15.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$5.01 MYR 20.27

12.77%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$2.79 MYR 11.26

-35.13%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$0.46 MYR 1.88

54.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.28 MYR 1.13

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$4.23 MYR 17.11

-47.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.22 MYR 17.08

-13.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$1.74 MYR 7.04

12.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$1.05 MYR 4.25

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$1.30 MYR 5.26

3.08%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.95 MYR 7.87

15.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$14.25 MYR 57.6

14.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$4.58 MYR 18.52

-35.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$10.22 MYR 41.32

-2.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$3.31 MYR 13.38

-22.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$1.68 MYR 6.81

-36.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$2.78 MYR 11.25

-42.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$1.76 MYR 7.10

-13.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$1.19 MYR 4.80

6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$1.09 MYR 4.40

-1.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$1.20 MYR 4.86

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.53 MYR 2.16

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$4.36 MYR 17.61

-3.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$20.75 MYR 83.9

-13.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$2.52 MYR 10.18

-32.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$4.03 MYR 16.29

-29.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$0.83 MYR 3.35

12.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

$11.21 MYR 45.31

380.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$1.26 MYR 5.07

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$0.56 MYR 2.26

3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$7.06 MYR 28.55

-65.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$0.66 MYR 2.66

113.64%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$41.9K MYR 169.4K

-48.81%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$35.7K MYR 144.2K

-23.37%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$50.6 MYR 205

25.76%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$9.17 MYR 37.07

40.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$26.58 MYR 107

-23.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$44.19 MYR 179

-12.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$6.54 MYR 26.43

-39.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$4.94 MYR 19.96

36.44%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$202 MYR 815

286.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$4,936 MYR 20.0K

195.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$61.2 MYR 247

-11.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$38.93 MYR 157

-34.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$93.6 MYR 379

0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$80.6 MYR 326

-8.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$436 MYR 1,764

12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$293 MYR 1,184

-1.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$763 MYR 3,083

17.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$471 MYR 1,906

9.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$2,271 MYR 9,182

-13.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$1,153 MYR 4,663

28.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$501 MYR 2,028

20.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.2

32.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $436 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 20% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $263 – 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

Kuala Terengganu costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,464 in Kuala Terengganu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $202 in Kuala Terengganu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Kuala Terengganu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Kuala Terengganu at $976. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Terengganu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $976 in Kuala Terengganu. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Terengganu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.