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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $999 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,432 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,865 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 36% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.55 MYR 10.42

-23.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$23.88 MYR 97.7

-23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.73 MYR 15.26

100.54%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.30 MYR 9.40

-12.17%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.77 MYR 3.17

10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.36 MYR 1.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$4.22 MYR 17.27

-49.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$5.38 MYR 22.00

-33.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.81 MYR 7.39

-8.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.01 MYR 4.15

55.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.50 MYR 6.12

-20.67%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.88 MYR 7.70

3.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$14.38 MYR 58.8

12.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.68 MYR 19.14

-36.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.88 MYR 40.41

10.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.00 MYR 12.27

-9.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.56 MYR 6.40

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.73 MYR 11.18

-38.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.45 MYR 5.94

10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.28 MYR 5.22

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.01 MYR 4.11

18.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.13 MYR 4.63

-40.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.51 MYR 2.10

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.33 MYR 17.71

7.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$19.24 MYR 78.7

-8.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$3.35 MYR 13.68

-44.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-22.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.68 MYR 2.80

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$11.85 MYR 48.46

63.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.16 MYR 4.75

17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.10 MYR 4.51

21.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.35 MYR 17.77

88.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.50 MYR 2.05

144.00%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

-47.22%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

-26.81%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$64.9 MYR 265

8.92%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$9.99 MYR 40.88

40.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$25.88 MYR 106

-32.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$38.38 MYR 157

9.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.27 MYR 29.74

-5.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.17 MYR 21.13

14.51%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$116 MYR 476

165.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

242.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$60.9 MYR 249

-8.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$36.78 MYR 150

-29.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$74.9 MYR 306

10.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$78.8 MYR 322

-10.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$449 MYR 1,838

-3.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$351 MYR 1,437

-32.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$834 MYR 3,413

-1.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$472 MYR 1,930

8.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,583 MYR 6,473

20.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$707 MYR 2,891

107.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,047 MYR 4,284

-44.68%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $449 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 81% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,498 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 in Selangor. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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 $861, than in Selangor at $999. 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 $861 versus $999 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.