Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Shah Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Shah Alam

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 1.5% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 1.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 0.9% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 6.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿62.8
$3.01 MYR 12.69
-35.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.36 ฿594
$18.76 MYR 79.1
-2.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 ฿252
$4.15 MYR 17.51
87.47%
Cappuccino
$1.96 ฿63.3
$2.73 MYR 11.49
-28.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.01
$0.72 MYR 3.02
15.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.44
$0.4 MYR 1.68
-12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.1 ฿67.9
$3.53 MYR 14.88
-40.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿121
$4.32 MYR 18.23
-13.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ฿54.8
$1.81 MYR 7.65
-6.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$0.96 MYR 4.06
69.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 ฿38.83
$1.45 MYR 6.1
-17.24%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.5
$2.11 MYR 8.91
-5.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.97 ฿517
$14.34 MYR 60.5
11.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ฿102
$5.11 MYR 21.56
-38.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿354
$8.35 MYR 35.23
31.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿86.6
$2.82 MYR 11.9
-4.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.97
$1.49 MYR 6.3
-21.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$2.55 MYR 10.76
-36.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.78
$1.24 MYR 5.25
24.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.23
$1.18 MYR 4.98
13.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.78
$1.37 MYR 5.78
-14.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.52
$0.89 MYR 3.74
-24.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.09
$0.52 MYR 2.19
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿148
$4.2 MYR 17.69
8.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿596
$18.33 MYR 77.3
0.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.64 MYR 11.15
-32.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ฿106
$3.79 MYR 15.97
-13.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿31.19
$0.74 MYR 3.11
29.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.98 ฿614
$15.37 MYR 64.8
23.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿43.78
$0.92 MYR 3.88
46.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.3 ฿42.14
$0.5 MYR 2.12
160.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.24 ฿267
$7.02 MYR 29.59
17.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.97
$0.46 MYR 1.93
169.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿699.5K
$33.8K MYR 142.6K
-36.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.1K
$28.2K MYR 118.8K
-22.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,272
$41.62 MYR 176
68.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.18 ฿459
$10.22 MYR 43.11
38.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.88 ฿579
$30.2 MYR 127
-40.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ฿1,369
$38.82 MYR 164
8.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.73 ฿218
$5.83 MYR 24.6
15.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.7 ฿185
$6.3 MYR 26.57
-9.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,969
$216 MYR 912
42.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿487.6K
$6,278 MYR 26.5K
139.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ฿1,822
$49.21 MYR 208
14.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.3 ฿851
$34.17 MYR 144
-23.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,742
$60.1 MYR 253
41.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,336
$49.08 MYR 207
47.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14.1K
$363 MYR 1,529
19.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ฿7,854
$262 MYR 1,105
-7.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 ฿26.1K
$584 MYR 2,463
38.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ฿16.2K
$480 MYR 2,025
3.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,195 ฿71K
$1,469 MYR 6,193
49.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 ฿50.5K
$1,161 MYR 4,895
34.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Shah Alam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 ฿22.1K
$1,200 MYR 5,059
-43.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.16
20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Shah Alam: November 4, 2025

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