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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $865 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,292 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,718 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

Chiang Mai and Qapshaghay have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chiang Mai and Qapshaghay are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Qapshaghay 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$7.97 ₸3,871

-75.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$19.91 ₸9,671

-6.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$5.79 ₸2,812

35.06%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$1.57 ₸765

24.20%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.89 ₸433

-4.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.54 ₸262

-35.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$0.94 ₸456

126.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.20 ₸583

210.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$1.32 ₸640

29.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.56 ₸271

191.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.49 ₸726

-23.49%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.73 ₸842

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$9.34 ₸4,536

73.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.53 ₸2,202

-31.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$7.70 ₸3,742

41.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.40 ₸678

96.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$1.97 ₸958

-38.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$1.96 ₸951

-17.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$2.06 ₸1,001

-22.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.59 ₸285

137.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.40 ₸194

192.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$1.25 ₸609

-47.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.73 ₸356

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$1.48 ₸720

216.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$10.41 ₸5,055

79.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$0.90 ₸438

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.14 ₸1,041

50.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.17 ₸80.9

429.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.70 ₸341

101.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.63 ₸304

104.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$4.58 ₸2,225

71.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.51 ₸249

149.02%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$23.2K ₸11.3M

-8.41%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$27.1K ₸13.1M

-17.89%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$63.6 ₸30.9K

8.65%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$8.60 ₸4,178

63.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$13.69 ₸6,648

31.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$32.65 ₸15.9K

25.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$5.34 ₸2,594

10.86%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$261 ₸126.6K

14.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$4,803 ₸2.3M

211.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$55.6 ₸27.0K

-1.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$44.32 ₸21.5K

-39.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$96.8 ₸47.0K

-12.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$122 ₸59.4K

-42.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$392 ₸190.3K

9.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$271 ₸131.7K

-12.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$642 ₸312.1K

24.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$440 ₸214.0K

17.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$933 ₸453.4K

111.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$850 ₸412.8K

73.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $392 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Qapshaghay. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $188 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,298 in Qapshaghay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 31% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $20.00 in Qapshaghay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $865 in Qapshaghay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Qapshaghay costs $865 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Qapshaghay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.