Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Petaling Jaya

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 5.3% more expensive than Petaling Jaya without rent, and 3.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 6.6% more expensive than Petaling Jaya without rent, and 4.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$3.47 MYR 14.63
-41.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$18.92 MYR 79.8
-0.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$4.6 MYR 19.4
66.74%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.72 MYR 11.47
-27.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.73 MYR 3.07
12.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.39 MYR 1.66
-15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$3.47 MYR 14.62
-38.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$4.92 MYR 20.75
-24.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.87 MYR 7.89
-12.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.95 MYR 4.01
65.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.72 MYR 7.24
-30.81%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.18 MYR 9.18
-9.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$10.64 MYR 44.87
50.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.39 MYR 14.3
-7.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$8.19 MYR 34.54
36.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.79 MYR 11.76
-1.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.75 MYR 7.37
-30.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.53 MYR 10.68
-32.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.25 MYR 5.27
24.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.13 MYR 4.75
18.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.4 MYR 5.89
-13.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.96 MYR 4.04
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.58 MYR 2.45
-8.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$4.27 MYR 18.01
10.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$18.88 MYR 79.6
-2.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.68 MYR 11.31
-33.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$3.83 MYR 16.16
-16.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.71 MYR 2.99
32.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$11.75 MYR 49.57
60.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.03 MYR 4.33
37.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.35 MYR 1.49
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$9.36 MYR 39.46
-16.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.49 MYR 2.07
155.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$31.3K MYR 132.2K
-32.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$28K MYR 118.2K
-22.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$41.58 MYR 175
69.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$8.89 MYR 37.47
54.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$22.97 MYR 96.9
-23.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$37.26 MYR 157
11.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$7.23 MYR 30.5
-4.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$5.08 MYR 21.43
14.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$210 MYR 887
46.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$8,001 MYR 33.7K
83.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$49.01 MYR 207
13.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$34.16 MYR 144
-22.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$55.2 MYR 233
54.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$48.06 MYR 203
49.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$455 MYR 1,917
-4.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$349 MYR 1,471
-32.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$823 MYR 3,471
-0.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$542 MYR 2,287
-8.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,404 MYR 10.1K
-9.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$821 MYR 3,463
87.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$1,668 MYR 7,036
-57.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.49
11.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Petaling Jaya: October 27, 2025

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