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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $482 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $736 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $990 in Malang, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 97% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Malang are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Malang 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.10 Rp 19.3K

90.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$11.41 Rp 200.8K

73.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.85 Rp 50.2K

103.16%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.35 Rp 23.7K

35.56%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.24 Rp 4,241

29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.19 Rp 38.6K

6.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.13 Rp 72.8K

-10.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.95 Rp 16.7K

113.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.10 Rp 19.4K

45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

82.05%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.20 Rp 21.1K

81.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.86 Rp 103.1K

171.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.13 Rp 55.2K

-1.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.15 Rp 125.9K

38.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.04 Rp 36.0K

28.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.31 Rp 23.1K

-16.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

5.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.42 Rp 25.1K

7.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.29 Rp 22.6K

-3.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.94 Rp 34.1K

-41.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.51 Rp 9,009

45.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.41 Rp 7,178

21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.74 Rp 48.3K

56.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$12.83 Rp 226.0K

40.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.89 Rp 50.9K

0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

56.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$5.78 Rp 101.7K

856.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.47 Rp 8,220

161.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.41 Rp 7,222

29.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$5.69 Rp 100.1K

-57.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

128.57%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$26.0K Rp 457.1M

-18.37%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$27.6K Rp 486.0M

-1.09%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$31.44 Rp 553.5K

106.52%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$2.39 Rp 42.2K

458.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$19.73 Rp 347.3K

5.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$14.60 Rp 257.0K

176.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$4.50 Rp 79.2K

-12.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.02 Rp 35.6K

232.18%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$31.03 Rp 546.3K

2436.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$9,700 Rp 170.8M

55.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$56.5 Rp 994.7K

-0.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$22.81 Rp 401.7K

9.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$53.3 Rp 937.7K

74.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$36.37 Rp 640.2K

106.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$142 Rp 2.5M

240.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$95.0 Rp 1.7M

202.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$196 Rp 3.5M

363.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$154 Rp 2.7M

245.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$201 Rp 3.5M

201.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

39.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Malang: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $142 in Malang. 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 202% 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 $11.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $169 – making Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 97% more than Malang, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $723 in Malang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.03 in Malang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $482, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Malang 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. Malang costs $482 versus $950 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 Malang. 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.