Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $991 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,454 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,918 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kangar, Perlis costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kangar, Perlis and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kangar, Perlis 28% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 MYR 14.93

$2.10 ฿69.3

74.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.96 MYR 81.2

$19.84 ฿656

0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 MYR 19.70

$5.79 ฿191

-16.41%

Cappuccino

$3.01 MYR 12.25

$1.83 ฿60.4

64.48%

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

$0.83 MYR 3.38

$0.78 ฿25.61

6.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 MYR 1.73

$0.31 ฿10.37

38.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 MYR 15.22

$2.34 ฿77.2

59.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MYR 18.94

$3.70 ฿122

25.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$2.03 ฿67.1

-8.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.35

$1.60 ฿52.7

-33.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$1.42 ฿46.75

1.41%

Eggs

$1.92 MYR 7.83

$2.18 ฿71.9

-11.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.61 MYR 55.4

$15.91 ฿526

-14.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MYR 17.77

$3.07 ฿102

42.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.03 MYR 40.79

$9.87 ฿326

1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 13.08

$2.63 ฿86.8

22.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.84

$1.10 ฿36.19

52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.87

$1.63 ฿53.8

49.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.74

$1.53 ฿50.6

8.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.37

$1.24 ฿41.13

6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.75

$1.13 ฿37.37

3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.93

$0.74 ฿24.38

63.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.34

$0.50 ฿16.48

14.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.95

$4.28 ฿141

3.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.10 MYR 77.7

$17.97 ฿594

6.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 MYR 12.06

$1.70 ฿56.1

74.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.21

$2.90 ฿95.7

28.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.15

$0.94 ฿31.13

-18.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.21 MYR 49.67

$55.3 ฿1,827

-77.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.93

$1.23 ฿40.76

-1.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.53 ฿17.66

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 MYR 30.49

$2.40 ฿79.3

212.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$1.44 ฿47.55

-48.61%

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

$42.0K MYR 171.0K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

98.36%

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

$34.5K MYR 140.3K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

26.28%

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

$50.9 MYR 207

$64.9 ฿2,145

-21.59%

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

$10.25 MYR 41.71

$13.35 ฿441

-23.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.38 MYR 120

$20.83 ฿688

41.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.13 MYR 163

$40.42 ฿1,336

-0.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 MYR 26.40

$3.95 ฿131

64.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 MYR 20.09

$6.71 ฿222

-26.38%

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

$179 MYR 729

$787 ฿26.0K

-77.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,056 MYR 20.6K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-66.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 MYR 258

$56.2 ฿1,858

12.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 146

$24.95 ฿824

43.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 MYR 333

$92.7 ฿3,063

-11.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 MYR 285

$75.1 ฿2,482

-6.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 MYR 1,753

$484 ฿16.0K

-10.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 MYR 1,333

$287 ฿9,491

14.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 MYR 2,873

$910 ฿30.1K

-22.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 2,010

$531 ฿17.5K

-6.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,087 MYR 8,489

$1,980 ฿65.4K

5.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,135 MYR 4,616

$1,451 ฿47.9K

-21.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

5.57

-24.60%

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

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $431 in Kangar, Perlis versus $484 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Kangar, Perlis vs $242 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

Kangar, Perlis vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kangar, Perlis costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,486 per month in Kangar, Perlis and $1,426 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 $179 per month in Kangar, Perlis and $787 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 Kangar, Perlis, 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 $950, than in Kangar, Perlis at $991. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kangar, Perlis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $991 in Kangar, Perlis. 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, Kangar, Perlis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.