Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Oskemen

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Oskemen: $925 and $904 a month, rent and utilities included.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
44

Cost of Living Index in Oskemen
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Oskemen Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Oskemen

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

$904

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Oskemen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Oskemen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $904 in Oskemen, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Oskemen $904

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,517 in Oskemen, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Oskemen $1,517

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,131 in Oskemen, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Oskemen $2,131

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Oskemen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Oskemen 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$13.29 ₸6,010

-82.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$26.05 ₸11.8K

-24.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$3.90 ₸1,764

43.85%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$3.42 ₸1,547

-51.46%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.98 ₸444

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.55 ₸248

-43.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.58 ₸716

52.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$1.69 ₸766

119.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.45 ₸656

34.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.49 ₸223

187.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$1.37 ₸618

-4.38%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.76 ₸795

23.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$10.07 ₸4,554

65.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$5.93 ₸2,681

-53.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$8.02 ₸3,624

13.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$1.17 ₸530

104.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$2.01 ₸907

-48.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.72 ₸1,230

-40.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$2.52 ₸1,140

-40.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$0.94 ₸425

37.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$0.52 ₸236

113.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.32 ₸145

125.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$1.05 ₸476

-49.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$2.23 ₸1,006

93.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$4.87 ₸2,201

268.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.45 ₸656

8.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.62 ₸733

75.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.24 ₸108

258.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$1.13 ₸511

7.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.32 ₸146

78.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$2.47 ₸1,119

-4.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$0.66 ₸297

118.18%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$32.4K ₸14.7M

-36.06%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$31.1K ₸14.1M

-13.85%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$46.60 ₸21.1K

33.76%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$11.54 ₸5,217

4.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$22.44 ₸10.1K

-11.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$26.34 ₸11.9K

40.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$19.83 ₸8,964

-80.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$5.09 ₸2,301

27.70%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$66.0 ₸29.8K

1101.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$2,835 ₸1.3M

422.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$112 ₸50.8K

-52.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$81.0 ₸36.6K

-69.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$97.9 ₸44.3K

-7.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$121 ₸54.7K

-41.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$339 ₸153.3K

34.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$226 ₸102.2K

31.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$675 ₸305.0K

34.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$572 ₸258.6K

-3.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$1,107 ₸500.3K

74.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$838 ₸378.8K

72.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$800 ₸361.6K

-26.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.5

-71.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Oskemen

$226 25% 24.1% $72

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Oskemen

$195 21.6% 17.1% $40

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Oskemen

$185 20.5% 71.5% $77

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Oskemen

$81 8.9% 14.6% $14

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Oskemen

$177 19.5% 125% $98

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Oskemen

$3.7 * 0.4% 93.9% $57

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Oskemen

$37 4% 27% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $339 in Oskemen. 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 35% higher in Oskemen, 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 $26.00 in Oskemen. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Oskemen – so Oskemen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇰🇿 Oskemen

🕒 Local time

23:12 11:12 PM

22:12 10:12 PM

1 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

354,770

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Kazakhstani Tenge KZT ₸

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD

1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Oskemen 3,760 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Oskemen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Oskemen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Oskemen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,356 in Oskemen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $26.00 in Oskemen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $904, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Oskemen 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. Oskemen costs $904 versus $925 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 Oskemen. 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.