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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $857 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,310 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,763 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Shah Alam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Shah Alam 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.02 MYR 12.05

-35.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.93 MYR 75.5

-1.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.13 MYR 16.47

89.35%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.73 MYR 10.88

-28.57%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.72 MYR 2.89

18.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.37 MYR 1.47

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.44 MYR 13.72

-38.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.43 MYR 17.68

-15.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.88 MYR 7.50

-9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.94 MYR 3.76

73.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.50 MYR 5.99

-24.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.06 MYR 8.21

-6.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.26 MYR 56.9

13.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.94 MYR 19.72

-36.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.09 MYR 32.26

34.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.83 MYR 11.27

-2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.46 MYR 5.81

-17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.58 MYR 10.28

-37.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.21 MYR 4.85

31.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.18 MYR 4.70

18.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.40 MYR 5.59

-16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.89 MYR 3.55

-25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.57 MYR 2.26

-7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.17 MYR 16.62

12.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$19.18 MYR 76.5

-2.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.65 MYR 10.57

-32.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.81 MYR 15.21

-15.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.69 MYR 2.76

30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$15.28 MYR 61.0

25.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.96 MYR 3.81

46.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.54 MYR 2.17

138.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.13 MYR 28.45

9.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.46 MYR 1.85

176.09%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$33.5K MYR 133.7K

-36.48%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$27.7K MYR 110.5K

-19.83%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$41.35 MYR 165

67.04%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.16 MYR 40.52

38.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$30.62 MYR 122

-41.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$38.96 MYR 155

5.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.98 MYR 23.87

16.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.36 MYR 25.39

-6.92%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$213 MYR 849

40.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$6,253 MYR 25.0K

139.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$49.63 MYR 198

10.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$34.84 MYR 139

-23.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$61.3 MYR 245

38.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$48.83 MYR 195

44.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$372 MYR 1,485

15.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$266 MYR 1,061

-10.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$576 MYR 2,299

39.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$481 MYR 1,919

7.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,553 MYR 6,195

27.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,223 MYR 4,880

20.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,263 MYR 5,040

-51.11%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $372 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 105% higher in Shah Alam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Shah Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $249 – 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

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Shah Alam, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,286 in Shah Alam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shah Alam, 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 $213 in Shah Alam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $857 in Shah Alam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shah Alam costs $857 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Shah Alam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.