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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 1.4% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 0.2% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 9.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.8

$2.89 MYR 11.42

-29.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿594

$19.78 MYR 78.2

-6.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿239

$4.76 MYR 18.81

57.14%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.8

$2.45 MYR 9.69

-18.37%

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

$0.85 ฿27.08

$0.70 MYR 2.77

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.24

$0.30 MYR 1.17

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.7

$2.90 MYR 11.44

-23.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿120

$3.60 MYR 14.21

4.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.9

$1.87 MYR 7.40

-8.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿52.2

$1.12 MYR 4.43

45.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿37.04

$1.02 MYR 4.05

13.73%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.3

$2.19 MYR 8.65

-9.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿509

$9.74 MYR 38.47

63.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿101

$3.85 MYR 15.23

-17.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿349

$8.02 MYR 31.69

35.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿84.6

$2.99 MYR 11.80

-11.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.09

$1.10 MYR 4.36

10.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿54.3

$2.53 MYR 10.00

-32.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.8

$1.82 MYR 7.18

-12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.33

$1.12 MYR 4.42

17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.36

$1.24 MYR 4.92

-5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.67

$1.68 MYR 6.62

-59.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.81

$0.49 MYR 1.93

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿144

$4.19 MYR 16.56

7.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿610

$21.67 MYR 85.6

-12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.6

$3.88 MYR 15.34

-54.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$3.49 MYR 13.77

-8.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.78

$0.25 MYR 0.99

284.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿604

$11.85 MYR 46.82

59.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿43.41

$0.93 MYR 3.67

46.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.23

$1.10 MYR 4.34

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿257

$1.95 MYR 7.69

311.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.74

$0.49 MYR 1.95

153.06%

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

$21.2K ฿676.6K

$45.7K MYR 180.7K

-53.73%

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

$21.8K ฿695.5K

$37.0K MYR 146.0K

-41.13%

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

$71.2 ฿2,277

$41.74 MYR 165

70.68%

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

$14.09 ฿450

$8.98 MYR 35.46

56.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿559

$25.04 MYR 98.9

-30.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,345

$29.52 MYR 117

42.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿220

$9.91 MYR 39.14

-30.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿190

$4.60 MYR 18.17

29.13%

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

$307 ฿9,827

$140 MYR 555

118.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿473.0K

$5,993 MYR 23.7K

146.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,780

$66.8 MYR 264

-16.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿856

$31.50 MYR 124

-14.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,661

$84.4 MYR 333

-1.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,241

$71.2 MYR 281

-1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$283 MYR 1,117

51.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,580

$207 MYR 819

14.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.6K

$559 MYR 2,207

43.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿16.1K

$390 MYR 1,542

28.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.9K

$2,168 MYR 8,565

-4.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿49.0K

$1,569 MYR 6,196

-2.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.9K

$546 MYR 2,159

19.62%

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 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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