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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 9.6% more expensive than Tawau without rent, and 1% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 11.2% cheaper than Tawau without rent, and 5.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.8

$3.63 MYR 14.35

-44.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿594

$19.06 MYR 75.3

-2.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿239

$4.23 MYR 16.70

76.83%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.8

$2.30 MYR 9.10

-13.04%

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

$0.85 ฿27.08

$0.78 MYR 3.08

8.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.24

$0.37 MYR 1.46

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.7

$2.32 MYR 9.15

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿120

$3.35 MYR 13.22

12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.9

$1.59 MYR 6.28

8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿52.2

$1.35 MYR 5.33

20.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿37.04

$1.68 MYR 6.65

-30.95%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.3

$2.15 MYR 8.50

-7.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿509

$14.95 MYR 59.1

6.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿101

$4.40 MYR 17.38

-27.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿349

$9.66 MYR 38.17

12.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿84.6

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-7.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.09

$1.52 MYR 6.02

-19.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿54.3

$2.51 MYR 9.92

-32.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.8

$1.39 MYR 5.48

14.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.33

$1.19 MYR 4.68

10.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.36

$1.28 MYR 5.05

-8.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.67

$1.04 MYR 4.12

-34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.81

$0.52 MYR 2.06

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿144

$4.25 MYR 16.80

6.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿610

$18.73 MYR 74.0

1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.6

$2.87 MYR 11.32

-38.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$3.00 MYR 11.83

6.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.78

$0.73 MYR 2.88

31.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿604

$11.76 MYR 46.46

60.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿43.41

$1.21 MYR 4.78

12.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.23

$0.99 MYR 3.93

36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿257

$6.02 MYR 23.78

33.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.74

$0.50 MYR 1.99

148.00%

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

$21.2K ฿676.6K

$34.8K MYR 137.5K

-39.18%

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

$21.8K ฿695.5K

$31.4K MYR 124.0K

-30.68%

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

$71.2 ฿2,277

$44.25 MYR 175

60.99%

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

$14.09 ฿450

$9.08 MYR 35.86

55.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿559

$28.91 MYR 114

-39.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,345

$37.15 MYR 147

13.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿220

$5.85 MYR 23.10

17.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿190

$2.86 MYR 11.30

107.69%

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

$307 ฿9,827

$187 MYR 740

64.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿473.0K

$6,821 MYR 26.9K

116.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,780

$60.3 MYR 238

-7.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿856

$27.11 MYR 107

-1.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,661

$72.6 MYR 287

14.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,241

$50.5 MYR 199

38.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$386 MYR 1,526

10.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,580

$273 MYR 1,080

-13.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.6K

$632 MYR 2,498

26.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿16.1K

$466 MYR 1,841

7.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.9K

$1,850 MYR 7,308

11.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿49.0K

$981 MYR 3,876

56.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.9K

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Tawau: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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