Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Putra Heights Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Putra Heights

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $950 in Putra Heights, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,391 in Putra Heights, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,832 in Putra Heights, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Putra Heights, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Putra Heights are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Putra Heights 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$3.65 MYR 14.95

-43.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$21.70 MYR 88.8

-9.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.93 MYR 20.19

15.01%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.86 MYR 11.70

-36.71%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.84 MYR 3.46

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.44 MYR 1.81

-20.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$4.45 MYR 18.21

-50.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$6.11 MYR 25.02

-37.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.76 MYR 7.22

16.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.07 MYR 4.38

41.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.44 MYR 5.90

-2.78%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.74 MYR 7.12

29.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$15.73 MYR 64.4

2.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.53 MYR 18.56

-35.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$9.58 MYR 39.20

-1.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.45 MYR 14.13

-22.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.67 MYR 6.83

-34.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.41 MYR 9.87

-32.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.60 MYR 6.55

-8.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.36 MYR 5.59

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.44 MYR 5.89

-26.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$1.17 MYR 4.77

-38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.51 MYR 2.11

3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.31 MYR 17.66

-1.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$13.99 MYR 57.3

30.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.98 MYR 12.21

-45.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.99 MYR 12.25

-3.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.72 MYR 2.95

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$12.09 MYR 49.49

344.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.26 MYR 5.16

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.78 MYR 3.17

-25.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$4.96 MYR 20.30

-51.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.82 MYR 3.35

76.83%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$42.4K MYR 173.4K

-50.42%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

-24.60%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$65.1 MYR 266

-2.18%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$9.41 MYR 38.52

36.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$26.20 MYR 107

-21.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$41.09 MYR 168

-5.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$7.58 MYR 31.02

-48.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.39 MYR 22.08

22.08%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$165 MYR 676

374.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$5,404 MYR 22.1K

171.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$65.5 MYR 268

-15.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$16.47 MYR 67.4

50.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$82.1 MYR 336

14.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$40.65 MYR 166

81.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$408 MYR 1,669

20.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$319 MYR 1,307

-9.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$673 MYR 2,753

32.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$483 MYR 1,975

7.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,986 MYR 8,129

-0.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,234 MYR 5,051

17.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,103 MYR 4,514

-45.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.06

37.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Putra Heights: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $408 in Putra Heights. 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 83% higher in Putra Heights, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Putra Heights. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $251 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Putra Heights: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Putra Heights costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,424 in Putra Heights. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $165 in Putra Heights. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Putra Heights, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Putra Heights at $950. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Putra Heights it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $950 in Putra Heights. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Putra Heights makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.