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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $848 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,258 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,668 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿66.0

$7.67 ₸3,600

-74.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿618

$19.34 ₸9,070

-5.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.78 ₸2,711

29.41%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿68.0

$1.58 ₸743

27.85%

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

$0.85 ฿28.57

$0.87 ₸406

-2.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.99

$0.53 ₸249

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿72.0

$1.02 ₸476

109.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.15 ₸538

212.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.6

$1.30 ₸610

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.8

$0.60 ₸280

161.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.12

$1.47 ₸690

-19.05%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.2

$1.80 ₸844

7.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿546

$9.25 ₸4,339

75.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.73 ₸2,217

-36.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿369

$7.47 ₸3,502

46.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.4

$1.39 ₸651

94.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.34

$1.97 ₸924

-40.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.9

$1.86 ₸874

-9.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.1

$2.07 ₸970

-22.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.65

$0.62 ₸290

122.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.54

$0.40 ₸186

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.55

$1.31 ₸612

-48.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.77

$0.70 ₸329

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.42 ₸667

226.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿594

$10.43 ₸4,893

68.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.87 ₸410

113.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.05 ₸962

60.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.75

$0.18 ₸82.7

388.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿46.01

$0.70 ₸327

94.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.08

$0.62 ₸293

116.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿277

$4.79 ₸2,248

71.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.28

$0.52 ₸243

134.62%

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

$21.4K ฿719.8K

$23.2K ₸10.9M

-7.93%

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

$22.5K ฿759.5K

$27.0K ₸12.7M

-16.56%

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

$70.7 ฿2,382

$62.9 ₸29.5K

12.30%

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

$14.04 ฿473

$8.90 ₸4,176

57.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿590

$13.46 ₸6,312

29.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,421

$33.15 ₸15.5K

27.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿200

$5.35 ₸2,510

10.65%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$267 ₸125.4K

15.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿501.5K

$4,939 ₸2.3M

201.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,880

$56.8 ₸26.6K

-1.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿880

$44.10 ₸20.7K

-40.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,798

$99.2 ₸46.5K

-16.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$120 ₸56.2K

-41.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.6K

$384 ₸180.0K

12.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,054

$273 ₸128.2K

-12.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$625 ₸293.3K

31.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.3K

$433 ₸203.2K

18.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.5K

$1,026 ₸481.1K

86.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.5K

$771 ₸361.8K

90.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $384 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Qapshaghay. Groceries tell a different story – $243 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

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Qapshaghay, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,272 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.

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.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $848 in Qapshaghay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Qapshaghay costs $848 versus $861 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.