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 6.9% more expensive than Petaling Jaya without rent, and 5.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 6.1% more expensive than Petaling Jaya without rent, and 4.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 ฿63.1
$3.48 MYR 13.68
-43.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$18.77 MYR 73.8
0.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 ฿255
$4.63 MYR 18.21
69.98%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.1
$2.81 MYR 11.03
-30.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.38
$0.72 MYR 2.83
18.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.49
$0.40 MYR 1.57
-12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.11 ฿68.5
$3.50 MYR 13.74
-39.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$4.98 MYR 19.58
-26.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ฿54.9
$1.88 MYR 7.40
-10.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$1.02 MYR 4.00
58.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 ฿38.96
$1.74 MYR 6.84
-31.03%
Eggs
$1.95 ฿63.1
$2.19 MYR 8.63
-10.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.80 ฿512
$10.82 MYR 42.51
46.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 ฿99.1
$3.53 MYR 13.87
-13.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.03 ฿357
$8.31 MYR 32.65
32.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 ฿84.7
$2.74 MYR 10.77
-4.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.99
$1.68 MYR 6.62
-30.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 ฿55.7
$2.47 MYR 9.69
-30.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.28
$1.21 MYR 4.76
25.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 ฿42.99
$1.13 MYR 4.44
17.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.34 MYR 5.28
-9.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.84
$0.91 MYR 3.57
-26.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.88
$0.64 MYR 2.51
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56 ฿148
$4.31 MYR 16.95
5.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.85 ฿610
$20.57 MYR 80.8
-8.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.2
$2.65 MYR 10.40
-30.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ฿102
$3.91 MYR 15.36
-19.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.50
$0.72 MYR 2.83
30.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.81 ฿609
$11.98 MYR 47.09
57.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.57
$1.01 MYR 3.98
39.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.23
$0.36 MYR 1.40
272.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.16 ฿264
$9.39 MYR 36.91
-13.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿41.32
$0.49 MYR 1.93
161.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K ฿709.5K
$31.3K MYR 122.9K
-29.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ฿704.1K
$28.2K MYR 110.9K
-22.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.9 ฿2,232
$40.95 MYR 161
68.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.13 ฿457
$9.38 MYR 36.85
50.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.59 ฿570
$22.85 MYR 89.8
-23.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.52 ฿1,344
$37.09 MYR 146
11.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 ฿220
$7.17 MYR 28.19
-5.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.70 ฿185
$4.88 MYR 19.20
16.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 ฿9,911
$215 MYR 846
42.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿476.0K
$8,055 MYR 31.7K
82.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,775
$49.70 MYR 195
10.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿868
$34.64 MYR 136
-22.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 ฿2,696
$54.9 MYR 216
51.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,270
$48.24 MYR 190
45.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$422 ฿13.7K
$458 MYR 1,800
-7.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,790
$349 MYR 1,372
-31.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$815 ฿26.4K
$828 MYR 3,254
-1.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿16.6K
$551 MYR 2,164
-7.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,993 ฿64.5K
$3,351 MYR 13.2K
-40.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,488 ฿48.2K
$781 MYR 3,071
90.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$621 ฿20.1K
$1,793 MYR 7,045
-65.34%
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: March 14, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: March 17, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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