Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Shah Alam is 7.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 1.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shah Alam is 14.8% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 6.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 MYR 12.61
$2.02 ฿65.3
48.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.48 MYR 77.9
$18.78 ฿608
-1.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.35 MYR 18.33
$7.67 ฿248
-43.29%
Cappuccino
$2.7 MYR 11.41
$1.98 ฿64.2
36.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MYR 3
$0.82 ฿26.64
-13.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MYR 1.65
$0.33 ฿10.58
18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 MYR 15.15
$2.12 ฿68.6
69.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 MYR 18.45
$3.73 ฿121
17.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.87
$1.64 ฿53.2
14.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 MYR 4.02
$1.57 ฿50.9
-39.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 MYR 6.27
$1.19 ฿38.62
25.21%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 8.99
$1.98 ฿64.1
7.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.22 MYR 60
$15.99 ฿517
-11.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 MYR 21.29
$3.12 ฿101
61.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.11 MYR 34.21
$11.16 ฿361
-27.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 MYR 11.77
$2.76 ฿89.2
1.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MYR 6.35
$1.22 ฿39.5
23.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 MYR 10.35
$1.71 ฿55.4
43.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 5.24
$1.55 ฿50.2
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 MYR 4.83
$1.34 ฿43.21
-14.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.85
$1.21 ฿39.23
14.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 MYR 3.84
$0.72 ฿23.2
26.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 MYR 2.19
$0.53 ฿17.05
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 MYR 17.61
$4.72 ฿153
-11.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.09 MYR 76.3
$18.39 ฿595
-1.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 MYR 11.38
$1.79 ฿57.9
50.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 MYR 16.53
$3.21 ฿104
22.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 MYR 3.08
$0.94 ฿30.44
-22.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.15 MYR 63.9
$18.9 ฿612
-19.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.97 MYR 4.07
$1.42 ฿46.08
-31.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 MYR 2.29
$1.35 ฿43.53
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.89 MYR 29.07
$7.85 ฿254
-12.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.5 MYR 2.1
$1.25 ฿40.4
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K MYR 142.8K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
60.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K MYR 117.6K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
27.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.07 MYR 173
$70.6 ฿2,285
-41.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23 MYR 43.14
$13.72 ฿444
-25.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.49 MYR 129
$17.56 ฿568
73.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.06 MYR 165
$41.64 ฿1,347
-6.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98 MYR 25.24
$6.9 ฿223
-13.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17 MYR 26.02
$5.8 ฿188
6.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$209 MYR 882
$308 ฿9,963
-32.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,113 MYR 25.8K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-58.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.07 MYR 207
$55.4 ฿1,793
-11.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 MYR 146
$26.4 ฿854
31.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.7 MYR 260
$85.1 ฿2,755
-27.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.64 MYR 205
$71.8 ฿2,323
-32.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$364 MYR 1,536
$434 ฿14K
-16.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 MYR 1,105
$235 ฿7,610
11.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 MYR 2,425
$821 ฿26.6K
-29.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MYR 2,010
$498 ฿16.1K
-4.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 MYR 6,145
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-33.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,158 MYR 4,883
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-24.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shah Alam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,199 MYR 5,057
$703 ฿22.8K
70.49%
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 Shah Alam: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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