Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lumut, Perak Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lumut, Perak

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $925 in Lumut, Perak, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,374 in Lumut, Perak, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,823 in Lumut, Perak, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 7% cheaper than Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Lumut, Perak are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Lumut, Perak 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.63 MYR 14.86

-46.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$11.56 MYR 47.27

58.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.75 MYR 19.44

57.47%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.86 MYR 11.69

-29.37%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.84 MYR 3.45

1.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.36 MYR 1.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.63 MYR 14.87

-41.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$5.91 MYR 24.17

-39.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.99 MYR 8.13

-17.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.05 MYR 4.31

49.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.70 MYR 6.97

-30.00%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-11.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$14.49 MYR 59.3

11.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.69 MYR 19.16

-36.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.43 MYR 38.57

16.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.91 MYR 11.88

-6.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.63 MYR 6.65

-28.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.60 MYR 10.64

-35.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.48 MYR 6.05

8.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.28 MYR 5.25

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.39 MYR 5.70

-13.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.21 MYR 4.95

-44.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.35 MYR 17.79

6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$18.76 MYR 76.7

-6.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$3.21 MYR 13.13

-42.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$4.26 MYR 17.42

-22.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.68 MYR 2.78

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$11.99 MYR 49.03

61.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.21 MYR 4.93

12.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.10 MYR 4.51

21.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.58 MYR 18.74

79.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.48 MYR 1.96

154.17%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$40.2K MYR 164.2K

-46.83%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$32.1K MYR 131.2K

-29.78%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$63.3 MYR 259

11.71%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$11.42 MYR 46.70

22.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$25.41 MYR 104

-31.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$37.39 MYR 153

12.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$5.77 MYR 23.59

19.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.31 MYR 21.72

11.49%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$267 MYR 1,092

15.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,479 MYR 38.8K

56.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$61.8 MYR 253

-9.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$38.08 MYR 156

-31.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$87.4 MYR 358

-5.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$81.1 MYR 332

-13.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$394 MYR 1,610

9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$267 MYR 1,094

-10.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$635 MYR 2,595

29.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$462 MYR 1,890

10.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,060 MYR 8,424

-7.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,147 MYR 4,692

27.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$382 MYR 1,564

51.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

11.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lumut, Perak: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $394 in Lumut, Perak. 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 52% 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 $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $264 in Lumut, Perak – so Chiang Mai 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 Lumut, Perak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lumut, Perak costs about 7% 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 $1,387 in Lumut, Perak. 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 $267 in Lumut, Perak. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Lumut, Perak, 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 $925 in Lumut, Perak, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $925 in Lumut, Perak. 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, Lumut, Perak makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.