😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $613 in Kyzylorda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $954 in Kyzylorda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,294 in Kyzylorda, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Kyzylorda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Kyzylorda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Kyzylorda54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$8.08₸3,737
-75.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$29.75₸13.8K
-36.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$6.80₸3,142
16.47%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$2.10₸969
-9.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$1.14₸526
-26.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.38₸174
-7.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.18₸1,006
1.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$3.01₸1,394
26.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.11₸512
47.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.21₸96.9
671.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$0.87₸403
35.63%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$1.17₸540
71.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$8.57₸3,960
85.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$1.81₸838
66.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$4.14₸1,916
160.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$1.19₸553
119.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.86₸858
-34.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.77₸819
-3.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$2.21₸1,021
-28.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$1.14₸528
15.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$0.59₸272
98.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$1.20₸554
-44.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.89₸410
-37.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$2.16₸999
109.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$2.45₸1,134
642.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.11₸514
64.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.61₸745
100.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.20₸92.1
345.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.67₸308
101.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.66₸307
104.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$4.79₸2,215
72.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$0.43₸198
195.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$25.7K₸11.9M
-17.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$27.7K₸12.8M
-18.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$66.5₸30.8K
5.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$7.71₸3,565
78.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$13.94₸6,446
26.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$29.85₸13.8K
39.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$15.59₸7,209
-57.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$5.36₸2,476
7.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$209₸96.5K
46.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$4,842₸2.2M
206.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$38.49₸17.8K
41.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$49.03₸22.7K
-46.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$46.40₸21.5K
82.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$59.6₸27.6K
16.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$166₸76.9K
154.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$136₸63.1K
74.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$259₸119.7K
218.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$192₸88.6K
168.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kyzylorda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$325₸150.4K
95.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
23
-78.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kyzylorda: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $166 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 95% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Kyzylorda. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $137 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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kyzylorda?
Chiang Mai costs about 39% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Kyzylorda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $919 in Kyzylorda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kyzylorda?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Kyzylorda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $30.00 in Kyzylorda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Kyzylorda?
Groceries cost about 77% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Kyzylorda?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $613 in Kyzylorda, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kyzylorda?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kyzylorda costs $613 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kyzylorda?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Kyzylorda?
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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared