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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $650 in Malatya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $983 in Malatya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,316 in Malatya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Malatya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Malatya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Malatya 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$4.91 ₺240

-57.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$25.30 ₺1,234

-22.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.31 ₺357

-22.44%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.65 ₺80.5

9.70%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.91 ₺44.53

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.22 ₺10.71

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.40 ₺117

-7.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.43 ₺167

10.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.85 ₺41.40

141.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.76 ₺36.87

98.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.70 ₺132

-48.15%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.91 ₺93.3

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.97 ₺389

103.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$2.42 ₺118

19.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$16.99 ₺828

-44.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.46 ₺71.1

83.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.56 ₺76.0

-30.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.86 ₺41.83

88.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.74 ₺35.90

97.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.44 ₺21.31

190.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.39 ₺18.85

171.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.56 ₺27.20

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.44 ₺21.61

20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.92 ₺93.8

120.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$8.17 ₺398

123.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$2.01 ₺97.8

-18.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.30 ₺112

26.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.28 ₺13.45

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.87 ₺42.60

34.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.46 ₺22.34

26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.26 ₺61.6

15.08%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$38.4K ₺1.9M

-45.23%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$37.3K ₺1.8M

-29.16%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$30.46 ₺1,485

108.96%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$10.38 ₺506

24.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$10.74 ₺524

91.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$36.03 ₺1,757

8.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$3.62 ₺176

81.77%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$15.25 ₺744

261.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$14.37 ₺701

72.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$54.9 ₺2,675

71.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$36.66 ₺1,788

101.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$325 ₺15.9K

50.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$220 ₺10.7K

31.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$425 ₺20.7K

109.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$304 ₺14.8K

71.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$954 ₺46.5K

-36.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-88.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Malatya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $325 in Malatya. 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 59% higher in Malatya, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Malatya. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $186 in Malatya – so Malatya 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 Malatya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Malatya, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $974 in Malatya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malatya, 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $650 in Malatya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malatya, where all-in costs run around $650, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Malatya 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. Malatya costs $650 versus $932 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 Malatya. 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.