Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Subang Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Subang Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $957 in Subang Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,362 in Subang Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,767 in Subang Jaya, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Subang Jaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Subang Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Subang Jaya 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.60 MYR 14.73

-45.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$19.22 MYR 78.6

-4.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.76 MYR 19.46

57.14%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.00 MYR 12.29

-32.67%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.79 MYR 3.24

7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.46 MYR 1.88

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$4.75 MYR 19.45

-54.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$6.63 MYR 27.13

-45.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.86 MYR 7.59

-11.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.96 MYR 3.91

63.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-17.36%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.07 MYR 8.46

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$14.78 MYR 60.5

9.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.73 MYR 19.36

-36.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.84 MYR 40.23

11.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.89 MYR 11.81

-6.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.34 MYR 5.50

-12.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.62 MYR 10.73

-35.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.51 MYR 6.18

5.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.23 MYR 5.05

12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.41 MYR 5.76

-14.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.22 MYR 5.00

-45.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.52 MYR 2.14

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.12 MYR 16.85

12.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$18.99 MYR 77.7

-7.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.73 MYR 11.17

-31.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.94 MYR 12.02

12.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.25 MYR 1.03

252.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$17.70 MYR 72.4

9.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.16 MYR 4.76

17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.49 MYR 2.02

173.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.60 MYR 18.83

78.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.46 MYR 1.87

165.22%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

-39.35%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.1K MYR 135.5K

-31.98%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$45.46 MYR 186

55.46%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$11.55 MYR 47.23

21.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$30.28 MYR 124

-42.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$23.82 MYR 97.4

76.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$2.30 MYR 9.39

199.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.80 MYR 19.64

23.33%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$186 MYR 761

65.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$6,903 MYR 28.2K

115.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$60.9 MYR 249

-8.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$18.95 MYR 77.5

37.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$83.7 MYR 342

-0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$39.53 MYR 162

78.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$495 MYR 2,022

-12.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$333 MYR 1,361

-28.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$630 MYR 2,576

30.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$478 MYR 1,957

7.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,362 MYR 9,662

-18.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,833 MYR 7,499

-19.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$914 MYR 3,738

-36.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

11.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Subang Jaya: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $495 in Subang Jaya. 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 58% higher in Subang Jaya, 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 $19.00 in Subang Jaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $255 – 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 Subang Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Subang Jaya costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,435 in Subang Jaya. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $186 in Subang Jaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Subang Jaya, 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 $861, than in Subang Jaya at $957. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Subang Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $957 in Subang Jaya. 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, Subang Jaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.