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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,027 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,483 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,938 in Selangor, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Selangor, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$4.22 MYR 17.23

-50.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$19.63 MYR 80.2

-0.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.00 MYR 16.34

41.75%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.19 MYR 8.96

-17.35%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.87 MYR 3.55

-11.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.46 MYR 1.89

-23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.50 MYR 18.39

-50.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$5.10 MYR 20.80

-25.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.91 MYR 7.81

7.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.10 MYR 4.50

37.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.51 MYR 6.15

-7.28%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.91 MYR 7.78

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$15.50 MYR 63.3

4.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.82 MYR 19.70

-39.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.82 MYR 40.10

-4.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.35 MYR 13.67

-20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.84 MYR 7.51

-40.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.44 MYR 9.96

-33.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.58 MYR 6.47

-7.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.36 MYR 5.57

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-2.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.14 MYR 4.65

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.54 MYR 2.20

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.34 MYR 17.72

-2.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$19.04 MYR 77.7

-3.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$3.38 MYR 13.80

-51.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$4.99 MYR 20.37

-41.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-29.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$12.26 MYR 50.1

338.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-6.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.26 MYR 5.14

-53.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.51 MYR 18.39

-47.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.66 MYR 2.70

119.70%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$42.4K MYR 173.1K

-50.46%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$35.0K MYR 142.9K

-24.51%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$65.2 MYR 266

-2.35%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$9.10 MYR 37.15

41.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$25.81 MYR 105

-20.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$40.42 MYR 165

-3.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$7.22 MYR 29.49

-45.71%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.30 MYR 21.64

24.15%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$124 MYR 505

533.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$7,373 MYR 30.1K

99.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$73.2 MYR 299

-24.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$42.30 MYR 173

-41.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$77.8 MYR 317

21.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$81.6 MYR 333

-9.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$504 MYR 2,059

-2.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$346 MYR 1,414

-16.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$881 MYR 3,597

1.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$485 MYR 1,979

7.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,559 MYR 6,364

26.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$712 MYR 2,906

102.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$1,045 MYR 4,266

-42.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.96

40.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Selangor: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $504 in Selangor. 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 74% higher in Selangor, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $272 – 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 Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selangor costs about 10% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,541 in Selangor. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $124 in Selangor. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Selangor, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Selangor at $1,027. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selangor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,027 in Selangor. 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, Selangor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.