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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $799 per month in Miri vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,245 per month in Miri vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,691 per month in Miri vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Miri is about 16% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Miri and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Miri 42% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 MYR 14.11

$2.10 ฿69.3

65.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.39 MYR 50.4

$19.84 ฿656

-37.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 MYR 18.41

$5.79 ฿191

-21.76%

Cappuccino

$2.31 MYR 9.42

$1.83 ฿60.4

26.23%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$0.78 ฿25.61

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.23

$0.31 ฿10.37

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MYR 12.00

$2.34 ฿77.2

26.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 MYR 16.26

$3.70 ฿122

8.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 MYR 6.03

$2.03 ฿67.1

-27.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MYR 7.75

$1.60 ฿52.7

18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 MYR 3.88

$1.42 ฿46.75

-33.10%

Eggs

$3.44 MYR 14.01

$2.18 ฿71.9

57.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 MYR 20.11

$3.07 ฿102

60.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.02 MYR 61.1

$9.87 ฿326

52.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 MYR 8.14

$1.10 ฿36.19

81.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.50 ฿16.48

-22.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.42 MYR 17.96

$4.28 ฿141

3.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.06 MYR 81.6

$17.97 ฿594

11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.37

$1.70 ฿56.1

78.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 MYR 9.71

$2.90 ฿95.7

-17.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.94 ฿31.13

-46.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.39 MYR 58.6

$55.3 ฿1,827

-73.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.93

$1.23 ฿40.76

-1.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$0.53 ฿17.66

11.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.29 MYR 25.59

$2.40 ฿79.3

162.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 MYR 2.46

$1.44 ฿47.55

-58.33%

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

$51.2K MYR 208.3K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

141.65%

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

$33.9K MYR 137.7K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

24.00%

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

$51.3 MYR 209

$64.9 ฿2,145

-20.96%

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

$10.07 MYR 40.97

$13.35 ฿441

-24.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.54 MYR 136

$20.83 ฿688

61.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.26 MYR 119

$40.42 ฿1,336

-27.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 MYR 24.44

$3.95 ฿131

52.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.46 MYR 18.16

$6.71 ฿222

-33.53%

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

$101 MYR 412

$787 ฿26.0K

-87.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,704 MYR 27.3K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-55.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.55 MYR 185

$56.2 ฿1,858

-18.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.62 MYR 92.0

$24.95 ฿824

-9.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 MYR 228

$92.7 ฿3,063

-39.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.70 MYR 174

$75.1 ฿2,482

-43.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 MYR 1,390

$484 ฿16.0K

-29.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 MYR 1,164

$287 ฿9,491

-0.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 MYR 2,384

$910 ฿30.1K

-35.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 MYR 2,444

$531 ฿17.5K

13.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,217 MYR 4,950

$1,980 ฿65.4K

-38.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$676 MYR 2,749

$1,451 ฿47.9K

-53.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$691 MYR 2,809

$605 ฿20.0K

14.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.57

-26.03%

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

Last update for Miri: September 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Miri 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.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Miri, 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 Miri versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $242 – making Miri 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Miri, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,199 per month in Miri 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 Miri, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $101 per month in Miri 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 22% 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 Miri, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Miri 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. Miri costs $799 versus $950 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 Miri. 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.