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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $772 per month in Kepong vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,238 per month in Kepong vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,704 per month in Kepong vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kepong is about 11% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kepong and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kepong 43% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.75

$1.98 ฿64.3

83.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.07 MYR 77.4

$18.80 ฿612

1.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.01

$7.75 ฿252

-39.48%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.31

$1.92 ฿62.5

45.31%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.26

$0.79 ฿25.79

1.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.59

$0.36 ฿11.62

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 MYR 14.45

$2.21 ฿72.1

61.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 MYR 20.95

$3.66 ฿119

41.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.54

$1.65 ฿53.8

12.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.04

$1.63 ฿53.2

-38.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.11

$1.19 ฿38.86

5.88%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.85

$2.00 ฿65.1

9.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.29 MYR 62.0

$15.98 ฿520

-4.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.14

$3.03 ฿98.5

71.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 MYR 42.80

$10.86 ฿354

-2.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 MYR 10.82

$2.76 ฿90.0

-3.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.14

$1.18 ฿38.42

49.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.01

$1.64 ฿53.5

50.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.05

$1.52 ฿49.51

-17.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 MYR 5.76

$1.38 ฿45.10

2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.36

$1.19 ฿38.84

10.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.83

$0.70 ฿22.86

35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$0.56 ฿18.13

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.26

$4.58 ฿149

-6.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 MYR 57.7

$16.56 ฿539

-14.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 MYR 11.36

$1.83 ฿59.5

53.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.30

$3.20 ฿104

-5.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.88 ฿28.56

-15.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 46.87

$18.72 ฿610

-38.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.95

$1.36 ฿44.16

-28.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.98

$1.34 ฿43.65

-26.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 MYR 36.42

$7.84 ฿256

14.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.02

$1.23 ฿39.92

-59.35%

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

$31.0K MYR 125.8K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

43.51%

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

$27.6K MYR 111.8K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

22.30%

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

$46.48 MYR 188

$70.5 ฿2,298

-34.11%

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

$9.27 MYR 37.58

$13.68 ฿445

-32.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 MYR 96.7

$17.45 ฿568

36.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.18 MYR 131

$41.33 ฿1,346

-22.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 24.01

$6.96 ฿227

-14.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 20.18

$5.77 ฿188

-13.69%

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

$212 MYR 860

$307 ฿10.0K

-30.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,980 MYR 28.3K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-52.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.66 MYR 201

$55.8 ฿1,817

-10.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.49 MYR 95.3

$26.21 ฿854

-10.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 MYR 288

$85.8 ฿2,793

-17.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.58 MYR 201

$72.2 ฿2,353

-31.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 MYR 996

$430 ฿14.0K

-42.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 MYR 712

$239 ฿7,774

-26.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 MYR 2,463

$817 ฿26.6K

-25.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$422 MYR 1,712

$511 ฿16.6K

-17.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,909 MYR 7,743

$1,983 ฿64.6K

-3.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$960 MYR 3,893

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-35.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 MYR 2,672

$619 ฿20.2K

6.50%

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 Kepong: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Kepong 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 6% higher in Kepong, 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 Kepong versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Kepong 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

Kepong vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Kepong, 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 $1,158 per month in Kepong 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 Kepong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $212 per month in Kepong and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $772 in Kepong and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kepong costs $772 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. 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 Kepong. 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.