Cost of Living Comparison Between Songkhla and George Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Songkhla and George Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $825 in Songkhla versus $850 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,292 in Songkhla versus $1,300 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,759 in Songkhla versus $1,750 in George Town.

Living in Songkhla costs roughly 3% less than in George Town, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Songkhla 38% lower, George Town 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 ฿55.7

$2.99 MYR 12.22

-44.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.66 ฿626

$21.37 MYR 87.4

-12.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.44 ฿115

$4.14 MYR 16.93

-16.91%

Cappuccino

$1.46 ฿49.01

$2.59 MYR 10.60

-43.63%

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

$0.63 ฿21.07

$0.71 MYR 2.92

-11.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.54

$0.34 MYR 1.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 ฿73.3

$4.25 MYR 17.40

-48.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 ฿113

$4.67 MYR 19.10

-28.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 ฿51.0

$1.89 MYR 7.73

-19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ฿29.84

$1.11 MYR 4.56

-19.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ฿71.7

$1.67 MYR 6.85

27.54%

Eggs

$1.59 ฿53.3

$2.06 MYR 8.44

-22.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.03 ฿538

$16.98 MYR 69.5

-5.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 ฿87.3

$5.11 MYR 20.90

-49.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 ฿358

$10.72 MYR 43.87

-0.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 ฿81.5

$2.78 MYR 11.39

-12.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 ฿58.4

$1.38 MYR 5.63

26.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.43

$2.17 MYR 8.89

-44.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.69

$1.26 MYR 5.17

-1.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿51.1

$0.89 MYR 3.63

70.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 ฿58.4

$1.17 MYR 4.79

48.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 ฿50.3

$0.74 MYR 3.02

102.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ฿31.50

$0.54 MYR 2.21

74.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.37 ฿147

$4.17 MYR 17.07

4.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.31 ฿447

$12.36 MYR 50.6

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ฿53.5

$2.69 MYR 10.99

-40.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 ฿157

$3.37 MYR 13.78

38.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.61

$0.48 MYR 1.98

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.9 ฿2,046

$11.56 MYR 47.29

427.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 ฿42.37

$1.15 MYR 4.71

9.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ฿25.82

$0.46 MYR 1.89

67.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.13 ฿307

$6.52 MYR 26.67

40.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ฿43.70

$0.47 MYR 1.90

176.60%

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

$28.2K ฿946.2K

$33.3K MYR 136.1K

-15.27%

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

$37.3K ฿1.3M

$25.4K MYR 104.2K

46.67%

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

$89.9 ฿3,017

$38.12 MYR 156

135.76%

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

$12.77 ฿429

$9.47 MYR 38.77

34.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.84 ฿632

$28.91 MYR 118

-34.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.59 ฿1,665

$38.83 MYR 159

27.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.80 ฿60.3

$3.79 MYR 15.51

-52.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.52 ฿185

$3.98 MYR 16.27

38.69%

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

$126 ฿4,216

$148 MYR 606

-15.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,855 ฿330.8K

$4,625 MYR 18.9K

113.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.72 ฿1,031

$51.8 MYR 212

-40.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.35 ฿1,153

$28.85 MYR 118

19.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 ฿3,347

$61.1 MYR 250

63.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.65 ฿727

$53.7 MYR 220

-59.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 ฿9,318

$370 MYR 1,513

-24.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 ฿6,137

$252 MYR 1,033

-27.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$604 ฿20.3K

$714 MYR 2,923

-15.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.4K

$500 MYR 2,046

-14.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,191 ฿73.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,588 ฿53.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$793 ฿26.6K

$1,078 MYR 4,412

-26.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.33

4.16

124.28%

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

Last update for Songkhla: July 11, 2026

Last update for George Town: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Songkhla and $370 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Songkhla vs $21.00 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $250 per month, with Songkhla cheaper across the board.

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

Songkhla vs George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Songkhla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 36% lower in George Town. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Songkhla versus $370 in George Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Songkhla runs roughly 427% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $126 in Songkhla versus $148 in George Town. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Songkhla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Songkhla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in George Town, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Songkhla and George Town are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Songkhla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.