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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 106.7% more expensive than Malindi without rent, and 148.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 76.3% more expensive than Malindi without rent, and 132.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿62.8
$2.18 KES 282
-11.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.36 ฿594
$31.1 KES 4,020
-40.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 ฿252
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.96 ฿63.3
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.01
$1.58 KES 205
-47.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.44
$0.92 KES 118
-61.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.1 ฿67.9
$3.56 KES 460
-41.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿121
$3.54 KES 458
5.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ฿54.8
$0.89 KES 116
89.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.6
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 ฿38.83
$1.22 KES 157
-1.64%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.5
$2.88 KES 373
-30.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.97 ฿517
$11.83 KES 1,528
35.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ฿102
$6.25 KES 808
-49.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿354
$5.07 KES 656
115.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿86.6
$3.17 KES 410
-15.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.97
$0.76 KES 97.7
53.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$2.71 KES 351
-39.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.78
$0.7 KES 90.8
120.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.23
$0.75 KES 96.3
78.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.78
$0.66 KES 85.3
77.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.52
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.09
$0.52 KES 67.2
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿148
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿596
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ฿106
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿31.19
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.98 ฿614
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿43.78
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.3 ฿42.14
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.24 ฿267
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.97
$1.37 KES 177
-9.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿699.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,272
$78.9 KES 10.2K
-10.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.18 ฿459
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.88 ฿579
$31.16 KES 4,027
-42.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ฿1,369
$38.62 KES 4,992
9.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.73 ฿218
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.7 ฿185
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,969
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿487.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ฿1,822
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.3 ฿851
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,742
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,336
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ฿7,854
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 ฿26.1K
$388 KES 50.2K
108.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ฿16.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,195 ฿71K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 ฿50.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 ฿22.1K
-
-
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: November 3, 2025

Last update for Malindi: November 4, 2025

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