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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Rawang vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,310 per month in Rawang vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,768 per month in Rawang vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Rawang is about 2% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rawang and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Rawang 36% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.05

$1.94 ฿63.5

56.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.02 MYR 83.4

$18.64 ฿609

12.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.28 MYR 16.99

$7.82 ฿255

-45.27%

Cappuccino

$2.82 MYR 11.20

$1.95 ฿63.8

44.62%

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

$0.91 MYR 3.60

$0.85 ฿27.77

7.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.35

$0.35 ฿11.58

-2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 MYR 16.55

$2.13 ฿69.6

95.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 MYR 17.10

$3.73 ฿122

15.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.28

$1.71 ฿56.0

7.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$1.63 ฿53.2

-36.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.81

$1.14 ฿37.15

50.88%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$1.93 ฿63.1

6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.67 MYR 58.2

$16.21 ฿530

-9.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.22

$3.12 ฿102

47.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.40 MYR 37.29

$10.90 ฿356

-13.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.35

$2.75 ฿90.0

4.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 5.95

$1.21 ฿39.52

23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 MYR 10.75

$1.62 ฿53.0

67.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.77

$1.59 ฿51.8

-8.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.54

$1.40 ฿45.70

-18.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.62

$1.17 ฿38.17

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 MYR 3.64

$0.66 ฿21.60

39.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.53 ฿17.22

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.18

$4.69 ฿153

-7.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 MYR 78.2

$18.66 ฿609

5.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.64

$1.80 ฿58.8

48.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.31

$3.23 ฿106

4.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.72

$0.90 ฿29.26

-23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.68 MYR 46.30

$19.21 ฿628

-39.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 2.91

$1.41 ฿45.91

-48.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.00

$1.29 ฿42.12

-60.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 MYR 18.19

$7.84 ฿256

-41.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.01

$1.27 ฿41.58

-59.84%

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

$33.9K MYR 134.3K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

59.23%

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

$27.2K MYR 108.0K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

22.64%

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

$37.94 MYR 150

$69.1 ฿2,256

-45.07%

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

$10.01 MYR 39.71

$14.08 ฿460

-28.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 MYR 101

$18.00 ฿588

41.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 MYR 148

$41.06 ฿1,341

-9.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.95

$6.96 ฿227

-16.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 MYR 19.30

$5.92 ฿193

-17.74%

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

$235 MYR 934

$299 ฿9,766

-21.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,161 MYR 24.4K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-58.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 MYR 220

$54.7 ฿1,787

1.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.12 MYR 115

$26.77 ฿874

8.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 MYR 240

$85.0 ฿2,776

-28.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.9 MYR 206

$70.6 ฿2,306

-26.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,506

$428 ฿14.0K

-11.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,076

$237 ฿7,752

14.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 MYR 2,516

$801 ฿26.2K

-20.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 MYR 1,903

$515 ฿16.8K

-6.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,013 MYR 7,981

$1,975 ฿64.5K

1.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$962 MYR 3,814

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-34.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,232 MYR 4,886

$617 ฿20.2K

99.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

-16.80%

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

Last update for Rawang: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Rawang versus $428 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 100% higher in Rawang, 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 $21.00 in Rawang versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Rawang, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Rawang and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $235 per month in Rawang and $299 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 4% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Rawang and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rawang costs $852 versus $866 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 Rawang. 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.