Cost of living comparison
Chiang Mai is 8.2% more expensive than Kuala Lumpur.
- Restaurants
-
pay 15.4% less in Chiang Mai
- Groceries
-
pay 5.8% less in Chiang Mai
- Transportation
-
pay 57.0% more in Chiang Mai
- Housing
-
pay 23.6% less in Chiang Mai
- Childcare
-
pay 66.1% more in Chiang Mai
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 15.3% less in Chiang Mai
- Clothing
-
pay 5.7% less in Chiang Mai
The cost of childcare and transportation in Chiang Mai are more expensive than in Kuala Lumpur. Expenses including housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, and clothing are lower in Chiang Mai.
If you lived in Chiang Mai instead of Kuala Lumpur, you would:
pay 15.4% less for restaurants
Kuala Lumpur
|
Chiang Mai
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.54
MYR19.20
|
$1.75
THB57.06
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.54
MYR19.20
|
$7.28
THB237.77
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.84
MYR3.56
|
$0.65
THB21.32
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.53
MYR2.26
|
$0.33
THB10.83
|
|
pay 5.8% less for groceries
Kuala Lumpur
|
Chiang Mai
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.95
MYR4.00
|
$1.47
THB47.87
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.58
MYR32.03
|
$7.16
THB233.73
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.22
MYR30.51
|
$5.98
THB195.36
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.36
MYR9.96
|
$2.02
THB65.93
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.94
MYR8.18
|
$1.25
THB40.78
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.24
MYR5.24
|
$1.19
THB38.72
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.69
MYR2.92
|
$0.52
THB16.86
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.25
MYR5.29
|
$0.57
THB18.60
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.63
MYR2.65
|
$0.68
THB22.29
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.47
MYR1.97
|
$0.60
THB19.68
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.51
MYR2.17
|
$0.51
THB16.72
|
|
pay 57.0% more for transportation
Kuala Lumpur
|
Chiang Mai
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.77
MYR7.50
|
$4.46
THB145.73
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$11.36
MYR48.01
|
$23.30
THB760.86
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$37,478.71
MYR158,441.23
|
$21,118.56
THB689,531.43
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$10.22
MYR43.21
|
$11.72
THB382.81
|
|
pay 23.6% less for housing
Kuala Lumpur
|
Chiang Mai
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$25.27
MYR106.81
|
$18.20
THB594.19
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$536.30
MYR2,267.19
|
$388.93
THB12,698.88
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$371.69
MYR1,571.32
|
$233.89
THB7,636.60
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$50.02
MYR211.47
|
$49.06
THB1,601.91
|
|
pay 66.1% more for childcare
Kuala Lumpur
|
Chiang Mai
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$250.80
MYR1,060.28
|
$461.21
THB15,058.73
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$8,920.55
MYR37,711.63
|
$13,232.91
THB432,061.07
|
|
pay 15.3% less for entertainment and sports
Kuala Lumpur
|
Chiang Mai
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.09
MYR17.28
|
$2.26
THB73.71
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.92
MYR12.34
|
$1.79
THB58.32
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.09
MYR17.28
|
$4.37
THB142.66
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.75
MYR189.17
|
$34.96
THB1,141.53
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.77
MYR20.17
|
$5.83
THB190.22
|
|
pay 5.7% less for clothing
Kuala Lumpur
|
Chiang Mai
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$57.74
MYR244.09
|
$55.83
THB1,822.90
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$35.00
MYR147.97
|
$30.29
THB989.12
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$76.75
MYR324.47
|
$81.56
THB2,663.02
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$73.25
MYR309.68
|
$64.08
THB2,092.37
|
|
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