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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 6.3% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 4.6% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.4

$3.03 MYR 11.95

-33.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿583

$21.49 MYR 84.9

-15.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿244

$4.15 MYR 16.37

84.34%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.3

$2.85 MYR 11.25

-32.63%

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

$0.84 ฿26.90

$0.68 MYR 2.68

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.39

$0.33 MYR 1.32

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.0

$4.42 MYR 17.48

-50.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$4.33 MYR 17.09

-12.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.4

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-13.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.8

$1.04 MYR 4.10

55.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.88

$1.98 MYR 7.81

-41.92%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.0

$2.13 MYR 8.42

-8.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿510

$17.65 MYR 69.7

-9.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.2

$4.99 MYR 19.72

-37.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿354

$14.67 MYR 57.9

-24.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.5

$2.79 MYR 11.03

-2.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.69

$1.49 MYR 5.90

-20.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.5

$2.70 MYR 10.68

-36.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.3

$2.15 MYR 8.51

-25.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.53

$1.19 MYR 4.72

16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.70

$1.18 MYR 4.65

-2.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.76

$0.91 MYR 3.59

-21.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.60

$0.49 MYR 1.95

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$4.15 MYR 16.39

10.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿603

$19.76 MYR 78.1

-4.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.2

$2.69 MYR 10.62

-32.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$3.49 MYR 13.78

-8.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.16

$0.48 MYR 1.91

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿604

$17.54 MYR 69.3

7.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.17

$0.74 MYR 2.94

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.59

$0.54 MYR 2.15

140.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿262

$7.14 MYR 28.21

14.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.18

$0.47 MYR 1.84

161.70%

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

$21.2K ฿677.0K

$33.0K MYR 130.5K

-35.90%

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

$22.3K ฿713.3K

$27.3K MYR 108.0K

-18.38%

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

$69.9 ฿2,234

$38.95 MYR 154

79.38%

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

$14.07 ฿450

$10.22 MYR 40.37

37.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿566

$31.73 MYR 125

-44.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,324

$32.71 MYR 129

26.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿214

$5.51 MYR 21.78

21.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$4.91 MYR 19.40

16.90%

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

$299 ฿9,566

$234 MYR 925

27.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿479.8K

$6,126 MYR 24.2K

145.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,753

$55.2 MYR 218

-0.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿842

$29.37 MYR 116

-10.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,706

$60.3 MYR 238

40.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,229

$51.8 MYR 205

34.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.6K

$389 MYR 1,537

9.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,697

$227 MYR 897

5.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.9K

$640 MYR 2,527

26.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿15.9K

$526 MYR 2,078

-5.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.7K

$2,321 MYR 9,167

-12.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.7K

$1,188 MYR 4,691

28.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.4K

$949 MYR 3,749

-32.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Penang: 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

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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