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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $852 in Rawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,310 in Rawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,768 in Rawang, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Rawang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Rawang are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Rawang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.04 MYR 12.05

-36.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$21.02 MYR 83.4

-11.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.28 MYR 16.99

82.71%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.82 MYR 11.20

-30.85%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.91 MYR 3.60

-6.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.34 MYR 1.35

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$4.17 MYR 16.55

-48.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.31 MYR 17.10

-13.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.84 MYR 7.28

-7.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.03 MYR 4.08

58.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.72 MYR 6.81

-33.72%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.05 MYR 8.11

-5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.67 MYR 58.2

10.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.59 MYR 18.22

-32.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.40 MYR 37.29

15.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.86 MYR 11.35

-3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.50 MYR 5.95

-19.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.71 MYR 10.75

-40.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.46 MYR 5.77

8.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.14 MYR 4.54

22.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.16 MYR 4.62

0.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.92 MYR 3.64

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.49 MYR 1.93

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.33 MYR 17.18

8.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$19.73 MYR 78.2

-5.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.68 MYR 10.64

-32.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.36 MYR 13.31

-3.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.69 MYR 2.72

30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$11.68 MYR 46.30

64.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.73 MYR 2.91

93.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.51 MYR 2.00

152.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.59 MYR 18.19

70.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.51 MYR 2.01

149.02%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$33.9K MYR 134.3K

-37.20%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.2K MYR 108.0K

-18.46%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$37.94 MYR 150

82.05%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.01 MYR 39.71

40.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$25.40 MYR 101

-29.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$37.31 MYR 148

10.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.79 MYR 22.95

20.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.87 MYR 19.30

21.56%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$235 MYR 934

27.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,161 MYR 24.4K

142.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$55.6 MYR 220

-1.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$29.12 MYR 115

-8.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$60.4 MYR 240

40.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$51.9 MYR 206

35.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$380 MYR 1,506

12.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$271 MYR 1,076

-12.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$635 MYR 2,516

26.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$480 MYR 1,903

7.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,013 MYR 7,981

-1.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$962 MYR 3,814

53.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,232 MYR 4,886

-49.89%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rawang: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $380 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 100% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Rawang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $255 – 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 2% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,279 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $235 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $852 in Rawang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rawang costs $852 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 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.