Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Kota Bharu is 18.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 25% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kota Bharu is 15.1% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 16.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73 MYR 7.3
$1.94 ฿62.8
-10.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.27 MYR 89.7
$18.36 ฿594
15.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.31 MYR 18.17
$7.78 ฿252
-44.60%
Cappuccino
$2.3 MYR 9.71
$1.96 ฿63.3
17.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.91
$0.83 ฿27.01
-45.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 MYR 1.05
$0.35 ฿11.44
-28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.28 MYR 18.04
$2.1 ฿67.9
103.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 MYR 18.25
$3.75 ฿121
15.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 MYR 6.62
$1.69 ฿54.8
-7.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 MYR 3.45
$1.63 ฿52.6
-49.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 MYR 3.53
$1.2 ฿38.83
-30.00%
Eggs
$1.54 MYR 6.51
$1.99 ฿64.5
-22.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.97 MYR 63.1
$15.97 ฿517
-6.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.98 MYR 12.57
$3.14 ฿102
-5.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.3 MYR 26.56
$10.94 ฿354
-42.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.86
$2.68 ฿86.6
-48.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.84
$1.17 ฿37.97
18.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.85
$1.63 ฿52.6
-14.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 MYR 3.82
$1.54 ฿49.78
-40.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 MYR 3.28
$1.34 ฿43.23
-41.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.2 MYR 5.04
$1.17 ฿37.78
2.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 MYR 3.75
$0.67 ฿21.52
32.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 MYR 1.82
$0.56 ฿18.09
-23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3 MYR 12.66
$4.57 ฿148
-34.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.53 MYR 61.3
$18.42 ฿596
-21.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 MYR 5.79
$1.79 ฿57.9
-23.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 MYR 14.29
$3.27 ฿106
3.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 MYR 2.92
$0.96 ฿31.19
-28.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 49.96
$18.98 ฿614
-37.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 MYR 3.1
$1.35 ฿43.78
-45.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.5 MYR 2.1
$1.3 ฿42.14
-61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 MYR 14.99
$8.24 ฿267
-56.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.95
$1.24 ฿39.97
-62.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K MYR 128.9K
$21.6K ฿699.5K
41.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MYR 114.8K
$21.8K ฿706.1K
24.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.87 MYR 164
$70.2 ฿2,272
-44.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 MYR 35.51
$14.18 ฿459
-40.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.34 MYR 111
$17.88 ฿579
47.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.19 MYR 153
$42.29 ฿1,369
-14.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95 MYR 25.1
$6.73 ฿218
-11.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34 MYR 18.29
$5.7 ฿185
-23.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 MYR 494
$308 ฿9,969
-62.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,202 MYR 26.2K
$15.1K ฿487.6K
-58.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 MYR 225
$56.3 ฿1,822
-5.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.9 MYR 79.7
$26.3 ฿851
-28.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.3 MYR 263
$84.7 ฿2,742
-26.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.3 MYR 221
$72.2 ฿2,336
-27.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 MYR 1,074
$434 ฿14.1K
-41.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 MYR 585
$243 ฿7,854
-42.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$871 MYR 3,672
$807 ฿26.1K
7.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$472 MYR 1,990
$499 ฿16.2K
-5.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,736 MYR 7,321
$2,195 ฿71K
-20.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,157 MYR 4,880
$1,560 ฿50.5K
-25.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$323 MYR 1,363
$683 ฿22.1K
-52.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
5
-16.80%

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

Last update for Kota Bharu: November 5, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

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