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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $958 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,436 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,913 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Shah Alam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Shah Alam 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.82 MYR 15.42

-45.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$19.79 MYR 79.8

-0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.15 MYR 16.74

36.14%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.94 MYR 11.87

-38.44%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.77 MYR 3.10

-7.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.38 MYR 1.53

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$3.43 MYR 13.84

-34.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.59 MYR 18.51

-20.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.87 MYR 7.56

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.07 MYR 4.32

40.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.44 MYR 5.80

-6.94%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.13 MYR 8.59

6.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$13.27 MYR 53.5

22.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.33 MYR 17.48

-31.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$9.79 MYR 39.51

1.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$3.44 MYR 13.88

-25.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.70 MYR 6.87

-37.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.76 MYR 11.15

-41.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.83 MYR 7.38

-16.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.25 MYR 5.05

1.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$2.07 MYR 8.36

-48.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.47 MYR 5.92

-51.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.57 MYR 2.31

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.20 MYR 16.96

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$19.08 MYR 77.0

-6.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.79 MYR 11.24

-39.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$4.47 MYR 18.04

-36.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.77 MYR 3.09

20.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$16.34 MYR 65.9

229.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.28 MYR 5.15

-3.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.39 MYR 1.57

48.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$7.56 MYR 30.50

-67.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.75 MYR 3.02

88.00%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$42.1K MYR 170.0K

-49.11%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$35.5K MYR 143.3K

-23.04%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$38.25 MYR 154

66.46%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$9.86 MYR 39.79

30.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$29.96 MYR 121

-32.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$39.58 MYR 160

-2.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$5.02 MYR 20.25

-20.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.68 MYR 26.94

0.90%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$202 MYR 814

285.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$4,569 MYR 18.4K

219.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$58.4 MYR 236

-7.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$39.95 MYR 161

-36.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$68.5 MYR 276

37.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$70.8 MYR 286

3.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$350 MYR 1,412

39.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$311 MYR 1,255

-7.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$567 MYR 2,288

57.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$555 MYR 2,241

-6.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,489 MYR 6,007

31.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,181 MYR 4,764

25.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$1,238 MYR 4,994

-51.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.24

31.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $350 in Shah Alam. 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 106% higher in Shah Alam, 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 Shah Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $264 – 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 Shah Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shah Alam costs about 1% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,437 in Shah Alam. 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $202 in Shah Alam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Shah Alam, 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 $947, than in Shah Alam at $958. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shah Alam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $958 in Shah Alam. 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, Shah Alam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.