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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $913 in Labuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,403 in Labuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,893 in Labuan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Labuan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Labuan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Labuan 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$5.41 MYR 22.13

-63.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$23.81 MYR 97.4

-22.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.55 MYR 26.77

14.20%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.72 MYR 15.21

-45.70%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.06 MYR 4.35

-19.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.39 MYR 1.60

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$3.51 MYR 14.35

-39.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.98 MYR 20.39

-27.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.67 MYR 6.84

-1.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.01 MYR 4.13

55.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.28 MYR 5.24

-7.03%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.11 MYR 8.64

-8.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$14.92 MYR 61.0

8.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.42 MYR 18.08

-32.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.66 MYR 39.51

13.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.00 MYR 12.25

-9.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.53 MYR 6.25

-23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.59 MYR 10.61

-34.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.38 MYR 5.64

15.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.20 MYR 4.90

15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.28 MYR 5.23

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.03 MYR 4.23

-34.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.51 MYR 2.11

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.29 MYR 17.53

8.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$16.63 MYR 68.0

5.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.85 MYR 11.68

-34.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.00 MYR 12.28

10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.70 MYR 2.85

25.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$11.76 MYR 48.10

64.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.15 MYR 4.72

18.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.04 MYR 4.25

28.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.05 MYR 24.76

35.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.46 MYR 1.88

165.22%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

-38.74%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$31.9K MYR 130.5K

-29.41%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$44.09 MYR 180

60.29%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$8.95 MYR 36.59

56.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$28.98 MYR 119

-39.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$36.71 MYR 150

14.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$5.80 MYR 23.70

18.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.91 MYR 20.09

20.57%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$191 MYR 782

61.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$6,796 MYR 27.8K

118.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$59.8 MYR 245

-6.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$27.52 MYR 113

-5.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$72.8 MYR 298

13.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$51.6 MYR 211

36.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$381 MYR 1,558

13.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$272 MYR 1,113

-12.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$641 MYR 2,622

28.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$469 MYR 1,916

9.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,970 MYR 8,058

-2.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,287 MYR 5,265

13.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$371 MYR 1,516

56.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Labuan: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $381 in Labuan. 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 56% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Labuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $248 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Labuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Labuan costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,370 in Labuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $191 in Labuan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Labuan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $913 in Labuan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $913 in Labuan. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Labuan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.