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 8.2% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 25.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kota Bharu is 22.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 13.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.76 MYR 6.95
$2.01 ฿64.4
-12.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.93 MYR 82.7
$18.23 ฿583
14.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.20 MYR 16.59
$7.65 ฿244
-45.10%
Cappuccino
$2.31 MYR 9.14
$1.92 ฿61.3
20.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 MYR 1.81
$0.84 ฿26.90
-45.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.36 ฿11.39
-30.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.27 MYR 16.88
$2.19 ฿70.0
94.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 MYR 16.92
$3.79 ฿121
12.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 MYR 5.88
$1.64 ฿52.4
-9.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 MYR 3.03
$1.62 ฿51.8
-52.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 MYR 3.05
$1.15 ฿36.88
-33.04%
Eggs
$1.48 MYR 5.85
$1.94 ฿62.0
-23.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.12 MYR 59.7
$15.94 ฿510
-5.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.96 MYR 11.71
$3.10 ฿99.2
-4.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.21 MYR 24.55
$11.07 ฿354
-43.90%
Apples (1kg)
$1.43 MYR 5.65
$2.71 ฿86.5
-47.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.73
$1.18 ฿37.69
22.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.46
$1.71 ฿54.5
-19.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 MYR 3.55
$1.61 ฿51.3
-44.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 MYR 3.22
$1.39 ฿44.53
-41.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.75
$1.15 ฿36.70
4.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MYR 3.74
$0.71 ฿22.76
33.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 MYR 1.59
$0.55 ฿17.60
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 MYR 12.01
$4.57 ฿146
-33.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.44 MYR 76.8
$18.87 ฿603
3.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 MYR 5.50
$1.82 ฿58.2
-23.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 MYR 13.40
$3.21 ฿103
5.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 MYR 2.75
$0.88 ฿28.16
-20.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 46.80
$18.89 ฿604
-37.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 MYR 2.76
$1.41 ฿45.17
-50.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MYR 2.10
$1.30 ฿41.59
-59.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 MYR 14.22
$8.20 ฿262
-56.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 MYR 1.99
$1.23 ฿39.18
-59.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K MYR 119.0K
$21.2K ฿677.0K
42.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MYR 107.5K
$22.3K ฿713.3K
22.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.15 MYR 155
$69.9 ฿2,234
-43.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.41 MYR 33.22
$14.07 ฿450
-40.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.11 MYR 103
$17.70 ฿566
47.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.05 MYR 146
$41.41 ฿1,324
-10.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.84 MYR 23.08
$6.69 ฿214
-12.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 MYR 16.87
$5.74 ฿184
-25.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 MYR 470
$299 ฿9,566
-60.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,291 MYR 24.8K
$15.0K ฿479.8K
-58.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 MYR 206
$54.8 ฿1,753
-4.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.77 MYR 74.1
$26.35 ฿842
-28.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.6 MYR 243
$84.7 ฿2,706
-27.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.6 MYR 208
$69.7 ฿2,229
-24.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$264 MYR 1,044
$427 ฿13.6K
-38.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 MYR 553
$241 ฿7,697
-41.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 MYR 3,395
$811 ฿25.9K
6.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 MYR 1,880
$498 ฿15.9K
-4.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 MYR 1,199
$639 ฿20.4K
-52.51%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

Kota Bharu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities