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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $863 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,274 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,686 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Qapshaghay are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Qapshaghay 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.5

$7.93 ₸3,711

-75.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿590

$19.36 ₸9,063

-4.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿240

$5.71 ₸2,673

31.35%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿61.9

$1.58 ₸740

22.15%

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

$0.78 ฿24.94

$0.84 ₸392

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.36

$0.53 ₸248

-39.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿68.8

$0.94 ₸440

128.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿119

$1.14 ₸534

225.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿54.9

$1.27 ₸595

34.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.0

$0.54 ₸254

188.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.85

$1.47 ₸688

-19.73%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.5

$1.80 ₸843

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿514

$9.46 ₸4,428

69.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$4.72 ₸2,210

-32.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿351

$7.57 ₸3,542

44.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.2

$1.38 ₸648

90.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.40

$1.97 ₸921

-40.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿52.7

$1.97 ₸924

-16.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.23

$2.08 ₸971

-25.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.09

$0.61 ₸286

126.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.33

$0.40 ₸186

192.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.13

$1.31 ₸611

-49.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.46

$0.75 ₸349

-32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿145

$1.49 ₸699

203.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿587

$8.87 ₸4,149

106.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.6

$0.85 ₸396

111.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.08 ₸973

52.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.80

$0.14 ₸67.0

542.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.25

$0.76 ₸355

85.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿41.91

$0.67 ₸314

95.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿259

$4.66 ₸2,183

73.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿40.85

$0.48 ₸223

166.67%

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

$21.3K ฿682.3K

$23.6K ₸11.0M

-9.63%

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

$21.7K ฿695.4K

$26.9K ₸12.6M

-19.37%

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

$69.2 ฿2,217

$62.7 ₸29.3K

10.38%

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

$13.97 ฿448

$8.81 ₸4,125

58.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿575

$13.75 ₸6,436

30.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,356

$33.80 ₸15.8K

25.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿213

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿190

$5.31 ₸2,486

11.49%

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

$299 ฿9,586

$260 ₸121.8K

15.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿475.8K

$4,887 ₸2.3M

203.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,800

$56.1 ₸26.2K

0.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿863

$44.08 ₸20.6K

-38.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,719

$97.5 ₸45.6K

-12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,301

$120 ₸56.2K

-40.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿13.9K

$385 ₸180.2K

12.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,684

$271 ₸126.7K

-11.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.6K

$644 ₸301.6K

23.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.0K

$432 ₸202.1K

15.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿63.9K

$1,050 ₸491.5K

90.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.1K

$793 ₸371.3K

93.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

-72.81%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $385 in Qapshaghay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $19 in Qapshaghay. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $186 in Qapshaghay – so Qapshaghay wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Qapshaghay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,294 in Qapshaghay. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $19.00 in Qapshaghay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Qapshaghay – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $863 in Qapshaghay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $863 in Qapshaghay. 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, Qapshaghay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.