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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $888 in Sarawak, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,280 in Sarawak, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,672 in Sarawak, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Sarawak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sarawak are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sarawak 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.59 MYR 14.17

-45.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$18.94 MYR 74.8

-0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.22 MYR 20.63

51.72%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.73 MYR 10.78

-30.04%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.77 MYR 3.04

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.37 MYR 1.45

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$7.84 MYR 30.98

-71.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$8.53 MYR 33.70

-55.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.85 MYR 7.32

-11.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.93 MYR 3.69

74.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.25 MYR 4.95

-5.60%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.14 MYR 8.47

-6.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$15.25 MYR 60.2

4.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.55 MYR 10.06

18.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.61 MYR 37.95

12.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.90 MYR 11.44

-10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.46 MYR 5.76

-16.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.51 MYR 9.90

-32.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.40 MYR 5.51

12.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.22 MYR 4.83

8.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.26 MYR 4.99

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.04 MYR 4.12

-35.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.67 MYR 2.65

-16.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.34 MYR 17.14

4.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$16.87 MYR 66.7

7.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.86 MYR 11.30

-36.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.01 MYR 11.88

7.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.68 MYR 2.70

30.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$11.95 MYR 47.20

62.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.15 MYR 4.56

17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.03 MYR 4.06

31.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$5.72 MYR 22.59

44.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.47 MYR 1.84

170.21%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$34.9K MYR 137.8K

-39.34%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$31.6K MYR 124.7K

-28.77%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$42.69 MYR 169

64.32%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$8.94 MYR 35.31

54.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$29.27 MYR 116

-39.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$36.53 MYR 144

13.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.72 MYR 22.58

15.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.01 MYR 19.80

15.37%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$187 MYR 741

63.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,906 MYR 27.3K

114.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$36.96 MYR 146

47.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.10 MYR 154

-33.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$78.6 MYR 310

7.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$57.2 MYR 226

21.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$329 MYR 1,299

28.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$269 MYR 1,063

-11.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$500 MYR 1,976

64.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$351 MYR 1,388

46.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,801 MYR 7,112

13.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$886 MYR 3,498

71.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$438 MYR 1,731

44.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $329 in Sarawak. 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 45% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Sarawak. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $241 in Sarawak – so Sarawak 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 Sarawak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sarawak costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,333 in Sarawak. 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.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $187 in Sarawak. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Sarawak – 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $888 in Sarawak, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $888 in Sarawak. 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, Sarawak makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.