Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Shymkent Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Shymkent

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $776 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,352 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,928 in Shymkent, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Shymkent 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$10.77 ₸4,907

-80.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$32.49 ₸14.8K

-39.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.63 ₸3,021

-14.78%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.39 ₸1,091

-24.27%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.02 ₸467

-30.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.53 ₸242

-39.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.05 ₸480

113.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.33 ₸607

172.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.46 ₸666

34.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.42 ₸193

257.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.72 ₸783

-22.09%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.63 ₸741

38.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$10.25 ₸4,670

58.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.14 ₸2,343

-42.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$8.80 ₸4,009

12.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.18 ₸538

117.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$2.09 ₸954

-49.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.50 ₸1,139

-35.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.35 ₸614

12.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.53 ₸244

139.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.40 ₸181

167.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.86 ₸392

-16.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.83 ₸380

-38.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.46 ₸1,121

70.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$4.36 ₸1,987

309.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.04 ₸476

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.54 ₸703

84.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.13 ₸60.1

615.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.83 ₸377

48.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.37 ₸166

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$9.78 ₸4,457

-75.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.59 ₸267

138.98%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$26.9K ₸12.2M

-20.24%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$29.0K ₸13.2M

-5.86%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$46.53 ₸21.2K

36.84%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$9.10 ₸4,145

41.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$14.64 ₸6,671

38.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$38.70 ₸17.6K

0.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$8.60 ₸3,920

-53.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.40 ₸2,462

24.81%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$56.5 ₸25.7K

1277.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$35.70 ₸16.3K

52.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$33.12 ₸15.1K

-23.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$182 ₸82.9K

-48.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$52.1 ₸23.7K

41.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$333 ₸151.8K

46.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$202 ₸91.9K

43.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$693 ₸315.7K

28.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$550 ₸250.7K

-6.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,075 ₸489.6K

81.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$974 ₸443.6K

51.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$432 ₸196.9K

39.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.25

-69.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $333 in Shymkent. 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 39% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $32.00 in Shymkent. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $183 in Shymkent – so Shymkent wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Shymkent, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,165 in Shymkent. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shymkent, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $32.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shymkent, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shymkent costs $776 versus $947 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 Shymkent. 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.