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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $626 in Kyzylorda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,390 per month in Chiang Mai vs $997 in Kyzylorda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,368 in Kyzylorda, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Kyzylorda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kyzylorda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Kyzylorda 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 ฿68.0

$8.80 ₸4,068

-76.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.99 ฿660

$32.24 ₸14.9K

-38.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.73 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.71 ฿56.3

$2.29 ₸1,058

-25.33%

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

$0.73 ฿24.23

$1.31 ₸606

-44.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.05

$0.42 ₸192

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿80.5

$2.43 ₸1,123

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 ฿127

$3.30 ₸1,525

16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ฿64.2

$1.28 ₸594

51.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 ฿53.1

$0.23 ₸106

600.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.01

$0.92 ₸427

44.57%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿73.1

$1.27 ₸587

74.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.29 ฿505

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.80 ฿92.5

$1.99 ₸918

40.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿356

$4.56 ₸2,109

136.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 ฿81.4

$1.35 ₸623

82.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.03

$2.05 ₸946

-46.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 ฿51.4

$1.95 ₸900

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿49.75

$2.50 ₸1,155

-39.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 ฿41.76

$1.26 ₸583

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.08

$0.65 ₸299

63.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.50

$1.26 ₸583

-43.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.42

$0.92 ₸424

-42.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.21 ฿139

$2.30 ₸1,064

83.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.47 ฿544

$2.32 ₸1,071

609.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$1.15 ₸531

49.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿94.0

$1.78 ₸822

60.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.72

$0.19 ₸86.9

389.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.6 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ฿39.35

$0.84 ₸387

41.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 ฿18.05

$0.77 ₸355

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ฿81.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.14

$0.61 ₸281

144.26%

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

$21.1K ฿696.6K

$27.6K ₸12.7M

-23.43%

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

$27.4K ฿903.5K

$30.4K ₸14.0M

-9.85%

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

$64.5 ฿2,128

$74.2 ₸34.3K

-13.11%

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

$13.08 ฿432

$8.52 ₸3,936

53.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.72 ฿651

$14.99 ₸6,930

31.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.94 ฿1,286

$31.98 ₸14.8K

21.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.96 ฿131

$17.27 ₸7,984

-77.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 ฿225

$5.79 ₸2,675

17.62%

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

$795 ฿26.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿487.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,856

$42.60 ₸19.7K

31.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.71 ฿849

$54.3 ₸25.1K

-52.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,024

$52.3 ₸24.2K

75.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 ฿2,411

$64.5 ₸29.8K

13.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$183 ₸84.8K

163.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 ฿9,271

$152 ₸70.3K

84.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 ฿29.7K

$284 ₸131.4K

216.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿17.0K

$214 ₸98.8K

140.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,009 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,458 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$594 ฿19.6K

$319 ₸147.4K

86.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-75.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 10, 2026

Last update for Kyzylorda: August 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $183 in Kyzylorda. 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 86% 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 $32.00 in Kyzylorda. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $122 in Kyzylorda – so Kyzylorda 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 Kyzylorda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Kyzylorda, 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 $1,368 per month in Chiang Mai and $938 in Kyzylorda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $912 in Chiang Mai and $626 in Kyzylorda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 94% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kyzylorda, where all-in costs run around $626, than in Chiang Mai at $912. In Kyzylorda 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. Kyzylorda costs $626 versus $912 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 Kyzylorda. 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.