Skip to content

Chiang Mai vs Kuala Lumpur

Chiang Mai runs about 23% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur for this household, a difference of 223 USD a month.

View of Chiang Mai City, taken from the top of Doi Suthep Mountain. Image extracted (crop) from Supanut Arunoprayote's original panoramic file. Extracted and edited (crop) under the Creative Commons A
Chiang Mai
$948/month · Thailand
Supanut Arunoprayote · CC BY 4.0
The bright lights of Bukit Bintang.
Kuala Lumpur
$1,171/month · Malaysia
Will Simmonds from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, China · CC BY 2.0
Chiang Mai monthly
$948
Index 15 (NYC = 100)
Kuala Lumpur monthly
$1,171
Index 18 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+23%
Kuala Lumpur relative to Chiang Mai
Rent gap
$220
Kuala Lumpur costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

Chiang MaiKuala Lumpur
  • Housing
    Housing: Chiang Mai $380, Kuala Lumpur $600. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Food
    Food: Chiang Mai $300, Kuala Lumpur $300. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chiang Mai $35, Kuala Lumpur $40. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chiang Mai $91, Kuala Lumpur $86. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chiang Mai $14, Kuala Lumpur $14. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chiang Mai $87, Kuala Lumpur $90. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Other
    Other: Chiang Mai $42, Kuala Lumpur $42. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricChiang MaiKuala Lumpur
Cost
Total monthly cost948 USD✓1,171 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)15✓18
Housing380 USD✓600 USD
Utilities91 USD86 USD✓
Food300 USD300 USD✓
Transport35 USD✓40 USD
Healthcare14 USD✓14 USD
Lifestyle87 USD✓90 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,510 USD✓5,698 USD
Effective tax + social rate21.9%✓31.6%
Left over each month5,562 USD✓4,527 USD
Average local net salary600 USD1,000 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre380 USD✓600 USD
3-bed rent, city centre850 USD✓1,300 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,000 USD✓2,600 USD
Quality of life
Safety76/100✓68/100
Healthcare64/10076/100✓
Air quality28/10050/100✓
Public transport20/10070/100✓
Walkability52/10058/100✓
English proficiency38/10084/100✓
Nightlife72/10072/100
Family friendliness72/10074/100✓
Median broadband180 Mbps180 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature26°C✓28°C
Summer high36°C33°C✓
Winter low14°C23°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,600 h✓2,100 h
Annual rainfall1150 mm✓2500 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach accessNone nearby60 min✓
CurrencyTHBMYR
Time zoneAsia/BangkokAsia/Kuala_Lumpur

Chiang Mai runs about 23% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur for this household, a difference of 223 USD a month.

Next

Go deeper

Cost of living in Chiang MaiCost of living in Kuala LumpurConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Chiang Mai vs Ho Chi Minh CityChiang Mai vs BaliChiang Mai vs Bangkok
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Chiang Mai or Kuala Lumpur cheaper?

Chiang Mai runs about 23% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur for this household, a difference of 223 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Kuala Lumpur compared with Chiang Mai?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,510 a month in Chiang Mai and $5,698 in Kuala Lumpur, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Chiang Mai or Kuala Lumpur?

Chiang Mai scores 76/100 on safety and 64/100 on healthcare; Kuala Lumpur scores 68 and 76. Chiang Mai averages 26°C against 28°C in Kuala Lumpur.