Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kyzyl-Kiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kyzyl-Kiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $364 in Kyzyl-Kiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $594 in Kyzyl-Kiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $824 in Kyzyl-Kiya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Kyzyl-Kiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kyzyl-Kiya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kyzyl-Kiya 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.69 KGS 235

-22.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$22.64 KGS 1,979

-13.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$9.30 KGS 813

-39.25%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.94 KGS 170

-6.70%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.33 KGS 28.57

115.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.17 KGS 15.19

88.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.11 KGS 96.7

101.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.28 KGS 112

183.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.77 KGS 67.0

154.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.33 KGS 28.43

354.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.15 KGS 100

16.52%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.39 KGS 122

62.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$4.92 KGS 430

230.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.06 KGS 180

43.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$6.99 KGS 611

42.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$0.56 KGS 48.76

358.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.55 KGS 135

-31.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.35 KGS 118

19.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.48 KGS 41.56

216.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.50 KGS 43.74

154.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.43 KGS 37.43

148.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.60 KGS 52.1

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.50 KGS 43.70

2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.01 KGS 176

108.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.17 KGS 452

245.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.15 KGS 101

46.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.66 KGS 145

71.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.33 KGS 28.78

181.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.24 KGS 21.02

412.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.37 KGS 32.09

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$7.55 KGS 660

-67.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.69 KGS 60.4

104.35%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$18.3K KGS 1.6M

17.05%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$17.3K KGS 1.5M

58.03%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$39.86 KGS 3,485

59.73%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$2.61 KGS 228

392.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$9.38 KGS 820

115.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$40.66 KGS 3,554

-4.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$1.69 KGS 148

298.82%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$167 KGS 14.6K

366.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$1,875 KGS 163.9K

679.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$19.16 KGS 1,675

183.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$35.59 KGS 3,112

-28.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$52.6 KGS 4,599

79.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$34.09 KGS 2,981

115.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$399 KGS 34.9K

390.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$340 KGS 29.7K

334.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$442 KGS 38.6K

36.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kyzyl-Kiya: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 36% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Kyzyl-Kiya. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $117 in Kyzyl-Kiya – so Kyzyl-Kiya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kyzyl-Kiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Kyzyl-Kiya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $546 in Kyzyl-Kiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $23.00 in Kyzyl-Kiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 105% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kyzyl-Kiya, where all-in costs run around $364, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Kyzyl-Kiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kyzyl-Kiya costs $364 versus $947 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 Kyzyl-Kiya. 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.