🙂A single person spends $830 per month in Ekibastuz vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,328 per month in Ekibastuz vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,827 per month in Ekibastuz vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ekibastuz is about 10% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ekibastuz and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ekibastuz39% lower, Chiang Mai33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13₸4,631
$2.11฿69.1
380.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.94₸16.9K
$19.75฿648
87.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.44₸3,399
$5.85฿192
27.18%
Cappuccino
$1.56₸713
$1.76฿57.8
-11.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08₸493
$0.74฿24.37
45.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66₸301
$0.33฿10.90
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.27₸579
$2.47฿81.0
-48.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14₸979
$3.88฿127
-44.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25₸573
$1.90฿62.4
-34.21%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63₸287
$1.67฿54.7
-62.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75₸799
$1.35฿44.24
29.63%
Eggs
$2.20₸1,007
$2.14฿70.2
2.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.76₸5,376
$15.89฿521
-25.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.61₸2,562
$2.83฿92.9
98.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.03₸4,582
$10.53฿345
-4.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73₸789
$2.38฿78.2
-27.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41₸1,103
$1.07฿35.01
125.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18₸996
$1.52฿49.79
43.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39₸1,093
$1.50฿49.30
59.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78₸358
$1.28฿41.96
-39.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46₸209
$1.10฿36.17
-58.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48₸679
$0.69฿22.54
114.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91₸416
$0.49฿16.18
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15₸983
$4.27฿140
-49.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.31₸4,714
$16.78฿550
-38.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24₸566
$1.66฿54.4
-25.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₸1,053
$2.81฿92.3
-18.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₸104
$0.90฿29.44
-74.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$54.9฿1,801
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11₸507
$1.20฿39.24
-7.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09₸500
$0.54฿17.78
101.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.68₸3,053
$2.37฿77.9
181.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.55₸249
$1.43฿46.88
-61.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K₸10.7M
$21.1K฿691.5K
11.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K₸14.0M
$27.1K฿890.2K
12.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.7₸30.5K
$64.7฿2,124
3.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.26₸4,689
$13.19฿433
-22.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.37₸7,938
$19.44฿638
-10.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.45฿1,294
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77฿124
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.07₸2,773
$6.62฿217
-8.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$368₸168.2K
$805฿26.4K
-54.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0K₸5.0M
$15.1K฿496.1K
-27.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4₸30.3K
$54.8฿1,796
21.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.97₸22.4K
$25.43฿834
92.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₸53.2K
$91.9฿3,015
26.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126₸57.6K
$74.7฿2,449
68.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240₸109.8K
$467฿15.3K
-48.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180₸82.2K
$282฿9,251
-36.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$439₸200.9K
$891฿29.2K
-50.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337₸154.1K
$521฿17.1K
-35.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,985฿65.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,462฿48.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ekibastuz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$321₸146.6K
$592฿19.4K
-45.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.2
5.57
190.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ekibastuz: August 18, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Ekibastuz versus $467 in Chiang Mai. 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 85% 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 $37.00 in Ekibastuz versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Ekibastuz vs $237 in Chiang Mai – so Ekibastuz 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
Ekibastuz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ekibastuz or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Ekibastuz, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ekibastuz and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,244 per month in Ekibastuz and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ekibastuz or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ekibastuz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Ekibastuz and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Ekibastuz and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ekibastuz or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 6% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ekibastuz or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ekibastuz, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Ekibastuz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ekibastuz or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ekibastuz costs $830 versus $920 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ekibastuz compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Ekibastuz or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ekibastuz. 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.