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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 88.3% more expensive than Malindi without rent, and 149.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 55% more expensive than Malindi without rent, and 122.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$2.16 KES 279
-6.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$31.17 KES 4,025
-40.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$1.51 KES 195
-43.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.90 KES 117
-61.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$3.46 KES 446
-36.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$3.51 KES 453
7.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$0.96 KES 124
79.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$1.21 KES 156
-4.13%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$2.99 KES 387
-33.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$11.65 KES 1,504
36.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$6.28 KES 811
-49.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$4.94 KES 638
120.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$3.02 KES 389
-12.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$0.74 KES 96.1
64.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$2.68 KES 346
-36.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$0.71 KES 92.1
123.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$0.79 KES 102
67.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$0.70 KES 90.9
67.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.51 KES 65.9
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.37 KES 177
-9.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$78.5 KES 10.1K
-9.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$30.60 KES 3,951
-42.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$38.57 KES 4,980
9.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$391 KES 50.5K
104.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Malindi: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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