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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $891 per month in Kuantan vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,253 per month in Kuantan vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,615 per month in Kuantan vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kuantan is about 3% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kuantan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kuantan 35% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.47 MYR 10.00

$2.11 ฿69.1

17.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.08 MYR 48.82

$19.75 ฿648

-38.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.59 MYR 14.51

$5.85 ฿192

-38.63%

Cappuccino

$2.92 MYR 11.81

$1.76 ฿57.8

65.91%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$0.74 ฿24.37

-6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 MYR 1.67

$0.33 ฿10.90

24.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 MYR 13.75

$2.47 ฿81.0

37.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.63 MYR 22.73

$3.88 ฿127

45.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.74

$1.90 ฿62.4

-12.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 MYR 3.35

$1.67 ฿54.7

-50.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.79

$1.35 ฿44.24

5.93%

Eggs

$1.29 MYR 5.23

$2.14 ฿70.2

-39.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.10

$15.89 ฿521

-39.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 MYR 12.92

$2.83 ฿92.9

13.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.47 MYR 18.05

$10.53 ฿345

-57.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MYR 11.11

$2.38 ฿78.2

15.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.50

$1.07 ฿35.01

73.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.16

$1.52 ฿49.79

81.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.37

$1.50 ฿49.30

21.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.09

$1.28 ฿41.96

37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 8.03

$1.10 ฿36.17

80.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MYR 2.86

$0.69 ฿22.54

2.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.27

$0.49 ฿16.18

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 MYR 17.76

$4.27 ฿140

3.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.05 MYR 81.0

$16.78 ฿550

19.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 MYR 7.73

$1.66 ฿54.4

15.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 MYR 8.15

$2.81 ฿92.3

-28.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$0.90 ฿29.44

-47.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.23 MYR 49.43

$54.9 ฿1,801

-77.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MYR 4.59

$1.20 ฿39.24

-5.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.54

$0.54 ฿17.78

-29.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.52 MYR 38.46

$2.37 ฿77.9

301.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$1.43 ฿46.88

-63.64%

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

$34.1K MYR 137.9K

$21.1K ฿691.5K

61.95%

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

$33.0K MYR 133.2K

$27.1K ฿890.2K

21.53%

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

$39.62 MYR 160

$64.7 ฿2,124

-38.80%

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

$8.41 MYR 33.99

$13.19 ฿433

-36.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.29 MYR 98.1

$19.44 ฿638

24.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.84 MYR 165

$39.45 ฿1,294

3.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.13 MYR 28.80

$3.77 ฿124

89.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.61 MYR 18.60

$6.62 ฿217

-30.36%

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

$283 MYR 1,142

$805 ฿26.4K

-64.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 42.6K

$15.1K ฿496.1K

-30.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 MYR 212

$54.8 ฿1,796

-4.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.23 MYR 122

$25.43 ฿834

18.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.53 MYR 200

$91.9 ฿3,015

-46.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.19 MYR 199

$74.7 ฿2,449

-34.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 MYR 1,742

$467 ฿15.3K

-7.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 MYR 1,415

$282 ฿9,251

24.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$719 MYR 2,904

$891 ฿29.2K

-19.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 MYR 1,973

$521 ฿17.1K

-6.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 MYR 8,279

$1,985 ฿65.1K

3.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,128 MYR 4,555

$1,462 ฿48.0K

-22.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$972 MYR 3,927

$592 ฿19.4K

64.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.15

5.57

-25.49%

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

Last update for Kuantan: August 16, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $431 in Kuantan versus $467 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 64% higher in Kuantan, 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 $12.00 in Kuantan versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $237 – making Kuantan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Kuantan, 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 $1,337 per month in Kuantan and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $283 per month in Kuantan and $805 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $891, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kuantan costs $891 versus $920 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 Kuantan. 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.