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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $684 per month in Miri vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Miri vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,504 per month in Miri vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Miri is about 20% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Miri and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Miri 49% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 MYR 13.22

$2.04 ฿68.4

58.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.75 MYR 48.03

$18.71 ฿626

-37.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.02 MYR 16.45

$7.86 ฿263

-48.85%

Cappuccino

$2.63 MYR 10.73

$2.03 ฿67.9

29.56%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.88

$0.80 ฿26.71

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.35 ฿11.71

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 MYR 11.67

$2.14 ฿71.7

33.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.80

$3.67 ฿123

5.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$1.73 ฿57.8

-21.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.57 ฿52.5

-7.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 MYR 3.40

$1.20 ฿40.10

-30.83%

Eggs

$3.28 MYR 13.42

$1.97 ฿66.0

66.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 MYR 44.93

$16.23 ฿543

-32.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 MYR 19.37

$3.06 ฿102

54.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 MYR 49.16

$10.80 ฿361

11.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 MYR 12.49

$2.77 ฿92.6

10.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.17 ฿39.05

-2.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 MYR 9.45

$1.71 ฿57.1

35.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$1.59 ฿53.3

-9.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.39

$1.39 ฿46.63

-57.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MYR 3.71

$1.16 ฿38.67

-21.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$0.66 ฿22.11

37.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.52 ฿17.35

-36.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 17.47

$4.65 ฿155

-7.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.89 MYR 81.3

$17.78 ฿595

11.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.22

$1.79 ฿59.8

67.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 MYR 9.25

$3.34 ฿112

-32.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$0.91 ฿30.35

49.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.41 MYR 34.39

$18.64 ฿624

-54.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.41 ฿47.17

-14.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$1.34 ฿44.82

-47.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 MYR 23.69

$8.11 ฿271

-28.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$1.23 ฿41.27

-62.60%

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

$59.1K MYR 241.7K

$21.4K ฿717.0K

175.85%

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

$28.5K MYR 116.6K

$21.8K ฿730.0K

30.73%

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

$31.15 MYR 127

$71.3 ฿2,386

-56.33%

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

$9.30 MYR 38.02

$14.01 ฿469

-33.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 MYR 137

$17.93 ฿600

86.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.91 MYR 114

$40.82 ฿1,365

-31.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 24.64

$6.88 ฿230

-12.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 MYR 17.74

$5.72 ฿191

-24.13%

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

$97.9 MYR 400

$308 ฿10.3K

-68.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,254 MYR 21.5K

$14.7K ฿491.0K

-64.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.74 MYR 146

$55.8 ฿1,865

-35.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.81 MYR 76.9

$26.04 ฿871

-27.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.44 MYR 182

$84.8 ฿2,837

-47.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.50 MYR 129

$71.0 ฿2,375

-55.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 MYR 1,310

$423 ฿14.2K

-24.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 669

$242 ฿8,110

-32.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 MYR 2,029

$797 ฿26.7K

-37.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,550

$507 ฿17.0K

-25.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,233 MYR 5,038

$1,918 ฿64.2K

-35.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$678 MYR 2,772

$1,464 ฿49.0K

-53.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MYR 2,725

$595 ฿19.9K

12.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.63

-27.40%

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

Last update for Miri: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Miri versus $423 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 12% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Miri vs $244 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Miri, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,027 per month in Miri and $1,279 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 $97.9 per month in Miri and $308 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 1% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $684 in Miri and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Miri costs $684 versus $852 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.