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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $678 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,076 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,473 in Shymkent, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$9.93 ₸4,669

-80.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$19.90 ₸9,353

-7.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.99 ₸3,287

7.01%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.85 ₸868

9.19%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.99 ₸467

-14.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.41 ₸192

-12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.15 ₸542

86.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.91 ₸898

87.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.15 ₸541

43.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.30 ₸142

423.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.63 ₸767

-26.99%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.44 ₸676

34.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.92 ₸3,724

104.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.18 ₸1,967

-28.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.47 ₸3,042

69.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.96 ₸450

182.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.78 ₸837

-34.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.91 ₸896

-11.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.02 ₸480

56.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.48 ₸224

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.38 ₸178

215.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.79 ₸373

-15.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.69 ₸322

-18.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.99 ₸937

133.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$4.33 ₸2,034

306.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.94 ₸443

97.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.33 ₸627

148.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.14 ₸64.0

528.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.89 ₸418

52.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.62 ₸294

116.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.80 ₸2,724

41.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.50 ₸234

144.00%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.3K ₸9.1M

10.54%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$23.9K ₸11.2M

-5.69%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$50.4 ₸23.7K

40.11%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$8.64 ₸4,060

62.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$12.73 ₸5,981

37.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$33.03 ₸15.5K

27.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.81 ₸3,670

-11.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.04 ₸2,367

17.46%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$48.24 ₸22.7K

539.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,849 ₸2.3M

206.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$33.02 ₸15.5K

68.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$29.87 ₸14.0K

-12.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$120 ₸56.4K

-30.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$46.86 ₸22.0K

50.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$297 ₸139.7K

45.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$174 ₸81.7K

37.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$475 ₸223.2K

73.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$365 ₸171.5K

40.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,039 ₸488.5K

84.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$935 ₸439.7K

56.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$415 ₸195.2K

39.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.5

-74.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $297 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 40% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $149 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 27% more than Shymkent, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,018 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $20.00 in Shymkent. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $678 in Shymkent, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shymkent costs $678 versus $861 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.