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 2.1% cheaper than Shah Alam without rent, and 1.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 1.9% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$3.10 MYR 12.58

-36.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$18.76 MYR 76.2

-0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$4.36 MYR 17.69

81.65%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$2.81 MYR 11.43

-28.11%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.73 MYR 2.97

15.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.36 MYR 1.47

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$3.58 MYR 14.54

-37.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$4.34 MYR 17.62

-17.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$1.84 MYR 7.47

-9.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$0.94 MYR 3.83

72.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$1.44 MYR 5.83

-16.67%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$2.06 MYR 8.38

-6.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$14.42 MYR 58.5

10.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$5.06 MYR 20.54

-37.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$8.18 MYR 33.21

33.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$2.79 MYR 11.33

-4.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$1.51 MYR 6.14

-21.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$2.49 MYR 10.11

-34.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

$1.22 MYR 4.94

30.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$1.14 MYR 4.64

15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-11.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

$0.89 MYR 3.61

-20.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.51 MYR 2.09

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$4.31 MYR 17.48

7.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$18.92 MYR 76.8

0.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$2.68 MYR 10.89

-33.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$3.84 MYR 15.58

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

$0.73 MYR 2.95

23.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

$15.39 MYR 62.5

25.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

$0.98 MYR 3.96

38.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

$0.54 MYR 2.19

150.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$7.21 MYR 29.29

13.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

$0.49 MYR 2.00

148.98%

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

$33.9K MYR 137.7K

-37.01%

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

$28.0K MYR 113.5K

-22.20%

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$40.32 MYR 164

74.36%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$10.23 MYR 41.55

35.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$30.61 MYR 124

-41.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

$38.86 MYR 158

7.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

$5.95 MYR 24.16

14.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$6.41 MYR 26.02

-10.76%

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

$308 ฿9,693

$216 MYR 876

42.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

$6,197 MYR 25.2K

139.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

$48.64 MYR 197

14.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

$33.85 MYR 137

-21.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

$61.5 MYR 250

37.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

$48.44 MYR 197

46.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

$372 MYR 1,508

15.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

$272 MYR 1,103

-12.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

$576 MYR 2,339

40.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

$485 MYR 1,968

3.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

$1,478 MYR 6,001

48.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

$1,209 MYR 4,910

32.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

$1,241 MYR 5,037

-44.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: January 10, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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