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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 11.5% more expensive than Tawau without rent, and 4.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 8.5% cheaper than Tawau without rent, and 7.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$3.6 MYR 15.19

-43.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$19.17 MYR 80.9

-2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$4.02 MYR 16.96

90.80%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$2.31 MYR 9.75

-14.29%

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

$0.74 MYR 3.11

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$0.39 MYR 1.65

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$2.41 MYR 10.16

-12.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$3.36 MYR 14.17

11.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.56 MYR 6.56

5.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$1.3 MYR 5.49

20.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$1.73 MYR 7.3

-31.21%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$2.05 MYR 8.63

-3.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$15.13 MYR 63.8

5.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$4.48 MYR 18.91

-30.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$9.58 MYR 40.4

16.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$2.86 MYR 12.06

-3.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.48 MYR 6.22

-17.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$2.6 MYR 10.98

-34.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$1.44 MYR 6.05

7.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$1.18 MYR 4.96

13.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$1.33 MYR 5.6

-9.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$1.04 MYR 4.4

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$0.55 MYR 2.33

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$4.3 MYR 18.13

9.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$14.44 MYR 60.9

27.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$2.88 MYR 12.13

-37.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$2.94 MYR 12.39

9.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$0.68 MYR 2.85

38.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$11.97 MYR 50.5

57.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$1.16 MYR 4.9

22.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$0.98 MYR 4.15

37.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$5.77 MYR 24.33

36.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$0.49 MYR 2.09

155.10%

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$35.7K MYR 150.5K

-40.71%

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$31K MYR 130.6K

-29.46%

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$43.49 MYR 183

62.36%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$9.16 MYR 38.65

49.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$28.84 MYR 122

-39.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$37.56 MYR 158

10.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$5.93 MYR 24.99

16.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$2.91 MYR 12.27

99.31%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$191 MYR 804

61.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$7,045 MYR 29.7K

108.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$59.8 MYR 252

-7.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$27.2 MYR 115

-2.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$72.8 MYR 307

16.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$50.5 MYR 213

42.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$387 MYR 1,633

12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$266 MYR 1,123

-11.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$646 MYR 2,724

27.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$478 MYR 2,015

4.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$1,845 MYR 7,781

18.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$1,106 MYR 4,664

39.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Tawau: October 26, 2025

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