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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $686 in Miri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,083 in Miri, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,480 in Miri, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Miri, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Miri are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Miri 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.1

$3.15 MYR 12.95

-37.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$11.82 MYR 48.65

55.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$4.02 MYR 16.55

95.77%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.64 MYR 10.85

-26.14%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.75 MYR 3.07

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.82 MYR 11.60

-24.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$3.79 MYR 15.58

-2.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.43 MYR 5.89

16.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$1.39 MYR 5.72

12.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$0.84 MYR 3.47

41.67%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$3.33 MYR 13.72

-40.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$11.08 MYR 45.60

46.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$4.75 MYR 19.56

-33.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$11.88 MYR 48.90

-8.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$3.08 MYR 12.67

-13.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$1.15 MYR 4.72

6.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$2.26 MYR 9.31

-26.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$1.42 MYR 5.85

9.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$0.59 MYR 2.44

125.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$0.92 MYR 3.78

31.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$0.96 MYR 3.96

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.33 MYR 1.37

72.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$4.08 MYR 16.78

14.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$19.61 MYR 80.7

-13.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$2.87 MYR 11.81

-36.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$2.28 MYR 9.38

39.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$1.43 MYR 5.88

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$8.34 MYR 34.30

124.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$1.17 MYR 4.80

20.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$0.72 MYR 2.95

86.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$5.95 MYR 24.50

36.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$0.49 MYR 2.02

161.22%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$57.9K MYR 238.2K

-62.29%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$28.3K MYR 116.6K

-20.97%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$31.15 MYR 128

126.26%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$9.19 MYR 37.83

52.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$32.33 MYR 133

-45.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$28.10 MYR 116

46.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$6.07 MYR 24.96

11.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$4.34 MYR 17.88

37.33%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$98.0 MYR 403

209.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

$5,275 MYR 21.7K

183.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$35.01 MYR 144

56.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$18.61 MYR 76.6

41.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$44.82 MYR 184

91.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$31.32 MYR 129

122.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$309 MYR 1,273

38.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$166 MYR 681

44.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$484 MYR 1,991

67.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$382 MYR 1,573

33.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

$1,219 MYR 5,017

66.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

$673 MYR 2,770

123.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$746 MYR 3,069

-16.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.63

37.74%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Miri: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $309 in Miri. 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 20% higher in Miri, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Miri. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $246 in Miri – so Chiang Mai 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 Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Miri, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,029 in Miri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $98.0 in Miri. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $686 in Miri, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Miri costs $686 versus $848 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 Miri. 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.