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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 17% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 30% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 18.3% more expensive than Shymkent without rent, and 19.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$9.81 ₸4,614
-79.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$19.23 ₸9,047
-5.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿245
$6.88 ₸3,237
11.19%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.4
$1.80 ₸847
6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.91
$1.03 ₸483
-18.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.41 ₸191
-12.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$1.18 ₸557
85.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$1.88 ₸883
101.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.15 ₸540
42.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$0.30 ₸142
440.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.89
$1.57 ₸739
-26.75%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.50 ₸708
29.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$7.89 ₸3,712
102.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$4.40 ₸2,071
-29.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$6.44 ₸3,033
71.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.6
$1.03 ₸483
163.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.70
$1.87 ₸881
-36.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.89 ₸891
-9.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.03 ₸483
56.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.54
$0.44 ₸209
215.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.72
$0.35 ₸163
228.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.77
$0.77 ₸363
-7.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.67 ₸316
-17.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$1.90 ₸894
140.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿604
$4.31 ₸2,028
337.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.02 ₸480
78.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.35 ₸637
137.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.17
$0.14 ₸65.0
528.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.18
$0.90 ₸422
56.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.60
$0.68 ₸319
91.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$5.89 ₸2,770
39.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.19
$0.50 ₸237
146.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.2K
$19.7K ₸9.2M
7.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.5K
$24.4K ₸11.5M
-8.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$49.67 ₸23.4K
40.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$8.62 ₸4,056
63.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$12.89 ₸6,065
37.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$33.59 ₸15.8K
23.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$7.91 ₸3,721
-15.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$4.95 ₸2,327
15.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,569
$48.85 ₸23.0K
512.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿480.0K
$4,896 ₸2.3M
206.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$33.15 ₸15.6K
65.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿843
$30.12 ₸14.2K
-12.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,707
$118 ₸55.7K
-28.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,230
$47.02 ₸22.1K
48.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$303 ₸142.4K
41.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,699
$179 ₸84.4K
34.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$466 ₸219.5K
73.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$362 ₸170.3K
37.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$1,035 ₸487.0K
95.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$944 ₸444.2K
61.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Shymkent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$413 ₸194.2K
54.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
19.5
-74.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: April 13, 2026

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

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