Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kuching

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 2% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 9.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 4.2% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$2.89 MYR 11.72

-31.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$20.39 MYR 82.8

-8.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$4.82 MYR 19.55

64.32%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$2.45 MYR 9.96

-17.55%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.75 MYR 3.05

12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.30 MYR 1.22

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$2.77 MYR 11.26

-19.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$3.69 MYR 14.99

-2.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$1.91 MYR 7.75

-12.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$1.12 MYR 4.55

44.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$1.06 MYR 4.30

13.21%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$2.24 MYR 9.10

-13.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$9.49 MYR 38.52

68.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$3.75 MYR 15.21

-15.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$8.15 MYR 33.10

34.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$2.97 MYR 12.07

-10.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$1.14 MYR 4.65

3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$2.58 MYR 10.49

-36.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

$1.82 MYR 7.38

-12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$1.15 MYR 4.66

14.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$1.23 MYR 5.01

-3.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

$1.76 MYR 7.16

-59.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.49 MYR 2.00

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$4.14 MYR 16.80

12.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$19.30 MYR 78.4

-1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$3.69 MYR 14.97

-52.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$3.43 MYR 13.92

-6.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

$0.25 MYR 1.02

260.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

$11.82 MYR 47.98

62.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

$0.97 MYR 3.93

40.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

$1.09 MYR 4.41

23.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$1.87 MYR 7.58

335.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

$0.50 MYR 2.04

144.00%

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

$46.1K MYR 187.0K

-53.61%

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

$36.2K MYR 146.8K

-39.85%

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$40.95 MYR 166

71.67%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$9.21 MYR 37.40

51.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$25.22 MYR 102

-28.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

$29.30 MYR 119

42.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

$9.80 MYR 39.80

-30.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$4.58 MYR 18.61

24.89%

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

$308 ฿9,693

$141 MYR 572

118.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

$6,166 MYR 25.0K

140.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

$64.8 MYR 263

-13.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

$31.43 MYR 128

-15.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

$86.7 MYR 352

-2.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

$72.5 MYR 294

-2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

$281 MYR 1,142

53.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

$204 MYR 827

16.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

$561 MYR 2,276

44.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

$380 MYR 1,543

31.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

$2,054 MYR 8,340

7.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

$1,526 MYR 6,195

4.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

$588 MYR 2,387

16.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

17.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Kuching: January 12, 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

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