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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 78.9% more expensive than Malindi without rent, and 152.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 83.5% more expensive than Malindi without rent, and 127.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$2.19 KES 282
-8.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$31.21 KES 4,031
-41.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$1.58 KES 204
-46.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.90 KES 116
-60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$3.52 KES 454
-37.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$3.53 KES 455
7.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$0.91 KES 117
80.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$1.23 KES 159
-6.50%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$3.02 KES 390
-35.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$11.52 KES 1,488
38.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$6.35 KES 821
-51.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$4.91 KES 634
125.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$3.03 KES 391
-10.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$0.79 KES 102
49.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$2.77 KES 357
-38.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$0.72 KES 92.7
123.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$0.74 KES 96.0
87.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$0.70 KES 90.7
64.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.51 KES 66.0
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.44 KES 186
-14.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$77.9 KES 10.1K
-10.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$30.83 KES 3,982
-42.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$38.57 KES 4,981
7.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$394 KES 50.9K
105.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Malindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
-
-
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Malindi: April 11, 2026

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

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