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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,008 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,449 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,890 in Selangor, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.56 MYR 10.16

-24.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$23.14 MYR 91.7

-19.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.74 MYR 14.84

109.09%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.23 MYR 8.83

-12.56%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.77 MYR 3.06

10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.33 MYR 1.32

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$4.19 MYR 16.62

-49.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$5.33 MYR 21.15

-30.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.83 MYR 7.26

-6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.01 MYR 4.00

61.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.45 MYR 5.74

-21.38%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.83 MYR 7.24

5.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.43 MYR 57.2

12.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.66 MYR 18.46

-33.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.83 MYR 38.98

10.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.87 MYR 11.37

-4.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.64 MYR 6.52

-26.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.69 MYR 10.65

-39.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.51 MYR 5.98

5.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.27 MYR 5.03

10.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.99 MYR 3.93

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.08 MYR 4.28

-38.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.54 MYR 2.15

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.32 MYR 17.12

8.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$19.54 MYR 77.5

-4.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$3.37 MYR 13.35

-46.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.26 MYR 16.88

-24.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.74 MYR 2.94

21.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$11.61 MYR 46.04

65.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.21 MYR 4.79

16.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.10 MYR 4.38

17.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.38 MYR 17.39

79.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.46 MYR 1.84

176.09%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$39.3K MYR 155.8K

-45.86%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$31.9K MYR 126.5K

-30.38%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$65.4 MYR 259

5.58%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.48 MYR 37.59

48.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$25.69 MYR 102

-29.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$38.55 MYR 153

6.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.29 MYR 28.90

-4.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.20 MYR 20.62

13.85%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$117 MYR 462

156.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,384 MYR 17.4K

241.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$59.8 MYR 237

-8.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$36.96 MYR 147

-27.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$75.1 MYR 298

13.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$78.9 MYR 313

-10.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$441 MYR 1,749

-2.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$348 MYR 1,379

-31.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$849 MYR 3,365

-5.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$472 MYR 1,871

9.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,659 MYR 6,577

19.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$726 MYR 2,878

103.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,004 MYR 3,980

-38.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

26.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Selangor: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $441 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 63% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $261 – 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 16% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,511 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $117 in Selangor. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $866, than in Selangor at $1,008. 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 $866 versus $1,008 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.