Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,899 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kajang, Selangor costs about 7% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kajang, Selangor and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kajang, Selangor 31% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 MYR 13.98

$1.98 ฿64.3

74.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.76 MYR 76.1

$18.80 ฿612

-0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.73 MYR 19.16

$7.75 ฿252

-38.97%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.13

$1.92 ฿62.5

55.73%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.21

$0.79 ฿25.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.36 ฿11.62

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.75 MYR 19.28

$2.21 ฿72.1

114.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.59

$3.66 ฿119

65.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$1.65 ฿53.8

14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.24

$1.63 ฿53.2

-35.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.73

$1.19 ฿38.86

39.50%

Eggs

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$2.00 ฿65.1

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.67 MYR 63.6

$15.98 ฿520

-1.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 MYR 20.79

$3.03 ฿98.5

69.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.51 MYR 38.55

$10.86 ฿354

-12.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.59

$2.76 ฿90.0

3.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.34

$1.18 ฿38.42

32.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.80

$1.64 ฿53.5

77.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.52

$1.52 ฿49.51

22.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.14

$1.38 ฿45.10

9.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 MYR 7.35

$1.19 ฿38.84

52.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$0.70 ฿22.86

74.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.56 ฿18.13

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.69

$4.58 ฿149

-4.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.31 MYR 58.0

$16.56 ฿539

-13.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MYR 11.14

$1.83 ฿59.5

50.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 MYR 12.07

$3.20 ฿104

-6.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.88 ฿28.56

-21.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.87 MYR 48.13

$18.72 ฿610

-36.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$1.36 ฿44.16

-11.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.98

$1.34 ฿43.65

-26.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MYR 19.29

$7.84 ฿256

-39.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$1.23 ฿39.92

-61.79%

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

$35.3K MYR 143.3K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

63.40%

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

$32.6K MYR 132.3K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

44.72%

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

$45.07 MYR 183

$70.5 ฿2,298

-36.11%

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

$9.53 MYR 38.66

$13.68 ฿445

-30.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.14 MYR 126

$17.45 ฿568

78.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.58 MYR 152

$41.33 ฿1,346

-9.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 MYR 24.55

$6.96 ฿227

-13.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MYR 20.14

$5.77 ฿188

-13.86%

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

$209 MYR 846

$307 ฿10.0K

-32.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,995 MYR 28.4K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-52.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 MYR 249

$55.8 ฿1,817

10.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.02 MYR 150

$26.21 ฿854

41.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 MYR 344

$85.8 ฿2,793

-1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 MYR 291

$72.2 ฿2,353

-0.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,589

$430 ฿14.0K

-8.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,104

$239 ฿7,774

14.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,588

$817 ฿26.6K

-21.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 MYR 1,948

$511 ฿16.6K

-5.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,170 MYR 8,800

$1,983 ฿64.6K

9.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,029 MYR 4,174

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-30.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$613 MYR 2,487

$619 ฿20.2K

-0.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

-18.60%

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

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Kajang, Selangor versus $430 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 1% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Kajang, Selangor vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Chiang Mai 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

Kajang, Selangor vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kajang, Selangor costs about 7% 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 $1,388 per month in Kajang, Selangor and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. 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 $209 per month in Kajang, Selangor and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Kajang, Selangor, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $926 in Kajang, Selangor and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $926 in Kajang, Selangor. 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, Kajang, Selangor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.