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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Kyzyl-Kiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $311 in Kyzyl-Kiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $426 in Kyzyl-Kiya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 341% more than Kyzyl-Kiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kyzyl-Kiya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kyzyl-Kiya 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$2.79 KGS 244

-29.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.33 KGS 28.43

157.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.18 KGS 15.91

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$0.72 KGS 63.1

129.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.33 KGS 28.52

375.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$1.82 KGS 159

-34.62%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$1.34 KGS 117

44.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$2.04 KGS 178

46.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$7.05 KGS 617

55.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$0.55 KGS 47.70

392.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$3.39 KGS 296

-65.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.34 KGS 117

26.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.48 KGS 41.70

233.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.90 KGS 78.4

53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$1.04 KGS 90.7

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.49 KGS 42.68

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.35 KGS 30.95

151.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$0.68 KGS 59.6

79.41%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

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

$14.04 ฿471

$2.52 KGS 221

457.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$11.48 KGS 1,004

52.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$39.73 KGS 3,474

6.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$1.67 KGS 146

254.49%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$34.24 KGS 2,993

105.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$395 KGS 34.5K

385.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$343 KGS 30.0K

327.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$435 KGS 38.0K

33.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kyzyl-Kiya: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 33% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 341% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $293 in Kyzyl-Kiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $195 in Kyzyl-Kiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 154% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $195 in Kyzyl-Kiya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kyzyl-Kiya costs $195 versus $861 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.