Cost of Living Comparison Between Subang Jaya and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Subang Jaya and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $948 per month in Subang Jaya vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,368 per month in Subang Jaya vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,787 per month in Subang Jaya vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Subang Jaya costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Subang Jaya and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Subang Jaya 29% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.27

$1.94 ฿63.5

85.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 MYR 73.9

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.37

$7.82 ฿255

-40.79%

Cappuccino

$2.96 MYR 11.75

$1.95 ฿63.8

51.79%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.18

$0.85 ฿27.77

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.80

$0.35 ฿11.58

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.64 MYR 18.38

$2.13 ฿69.6

117.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.61 MYR 26.22

$3.73 ฿122

77.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.09

$1.71 ฿56.0

4.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.72

$1.63 ฿53.2

-42.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.70

$1.14 ฿37.15

26.32%

Eggs

$2.09 MYR 8.30

$1.93 ฿63.1

8.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.83 MYR 58.8

$16.21 ฿530

-8.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 MYR 18.50

$3.12 ฿102

49.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 MYR 39.82

$10.90 ฿356

-7.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 11.87

$2.75 ฿90.0

8.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 MYR 5.15

$1.21 ฿39.52

7.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.43

$1.62 ฿53.0

62.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.05

$1.59 ฿51.8

-3.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.40 ฿45.70

-12.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.50

$1.17 ฿38.17

18.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 MYR 4.64

$0.66 ฿21.60

77.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 MYR 16.75

$4.69 ฿153

-9.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.44 MYR 77.1

$18.66 ฿609

4.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 MYR 11.05

$1.80 ฿58.8

55.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 MYR 11.75

$3.23 ฿106

-8.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.00

$0.90 ฿29.26

-72.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.52 MYR 69.5

$19.21 ฿628

-8.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.76

$1.41 ฿45.91

-14.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.00

$1.29 ฿42.12

-60.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.69 MYR 18.60

$7.84 ฿256

-40.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.86

$1.27 ฿41.58

-62.99%

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

$35.3K MYR 140.0K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

65.93%

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

$33.4K MYR 132.5K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

50.47%

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

$45.16 MYR 179

$69.1 ฿2,256

-34.62%

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

$11.51 MYR 45.64

$14.08 ฿460

-18.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.09 MYR 119

$18.00 ฿588

67.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.41 MYR 92.8

$41.06 ฿1,341

-42.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.41 MYR 9.54

$6.96 ฿227

-65.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.09

$5.92 ฿193

-18.75%

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

$187 MYR 740

$299 ฿9,766

-37.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,041 MYR 27.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-52.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 MYR 237

$54.7 ฿1,787

9.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.66 MYR 74.0

$26.77 ฿874

-30.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 329

$85.0 ฿2,776

-2.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.69 MYR 157

$70.6 ฿2,306

-43.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 MYR 2,001

$428 ฿14.0K

17.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 MYR 1,292

$237 ฿7,752

37.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 MYR 2,472

$801 ฿26.2K

-22.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 MYR 1,889

$515 ฿16.8K

-7.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,938 MYR 7,682

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-1.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$961 MYR 3,812

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-34.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$936 MYR 3,712

$617 ฿20.2K

51.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

-10.60%

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

Last update for Subang Jaya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Subang Jaya 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 52% higher in Subang Jaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Subang Jaya versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $256 in Subang Jaya vs $246 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

Subang Jaya vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Subang Jaya costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,423 per month in Subang Jaya 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 Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $187 per month in Subang Jaya and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Subang Jaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Subang Jaya at $948. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Subang Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $948 in Subang Jaya. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Subang Jaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.