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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $851 in Rawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,316 in Rawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,782 in Rawang, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Rawang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.01 MYR 12.30

-34.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$20.97 MYR 85.8

-12.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.26 MYR 17.41

75.59%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.86 MYR 11.69

-29.37%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.86 MYR 3.51

-1.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.33 MYR 1.37

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$4.32 MYR 17.66

-50.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.29 MYR 17.56

-16.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.83 MYR 7.47

-9.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.99 MYR 4.03

58.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.65 MYR 6.75

-27.88%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.15 MYR 8.79

-9.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$14.50 MYR 59.3

11.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.62 MYR 18.88

-35.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.47 MYR 38.73

15.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.78 MYR 11.36

-2.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.58 MYR 10.55

-34.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.45 MYR 5.93

10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.19 MYR 4.85

15.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.17 MYR 4.77

2.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.89 MYR 3.66

-24.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.48 MYR 1.97

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.17 MYR 17.06

11.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$18.87 MYR 77.2

-6.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.71 MYR 11.10

-31.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.53 MYR 14.45

-6.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.69 MYR 2.84

27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$11.60 MYR 47.42

66.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.74 MYR 3.04

83.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.54 MYR 2.22

148.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.64 MYR 18.96

76.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.50 MYR 2.06

144.00%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$33.4K MYR 136.7K

-36.13%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$27.2K MYR 111.3K

-17.21%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$38.80 MYR 159

82.14%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$9.99 MYR 40.86

40.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$26.14 MYR 107

-33.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$37.59 MYR 154

12.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$5.74 MYR 23.49

19.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.86 MYR 19.90

21.81%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$234 MYR 958

31.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$6,231 MYR 25.5K

138.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$54.4 MYR 222

2.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$28.83 MYR 118

-9.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$61.2 MYR 250

35.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$51.9 MYR 212

35.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$381 MYR 1,559

13.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$264 MYR 1,082

-9.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$649 MYR 2,655

26.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$470 MYR 1,922

8.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,052 MYR 8,395

-6.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,134 MYR 4,639

29.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,195 MYR 4,887

-51.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rawang: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $381 in Rawang. 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 106% higher in Rawang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Rawang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $252 – 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 Rawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Rawang, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,277 in Rawang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $234 in Rawang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chiang Mai – 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $851 in Rawang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rawang costs $851 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 Rawang. 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.