Cities
Nomad city comparison
Chiang Mai vs Kuala Lumpur
Thailand · Southeast Asia · budget · Malaysia · Southeast Asia · budget
🏆 Chiang Mai wins on price.
Nomad Score comparison
🏆 Chiang Mai scores higher
Nomad Score
78/ 100
A
A — Great
Cost · 30%90.99361111111111
Productivity · 25%78
Sustainability · 20%74
Lifestyle · 15%64
Tax · 10%65
Weighted for long-term nomads · cost 30% · productivity 25% · sustainability 20% · lifestyle 15% · tax 10%
Nomad Score
76/ 100
A
A — Great
Cost · 30%83.65333333333334
Productivity · 25%74
Sustainability · 20%72
Lifestyle · 15%67
Tax · 10%75
Weighted for long-term nomads · cost 30% · productivity 25% · sustainability 20% · lifestyle 15% · tax 10%
| Sub-score | Chiang Mai | Kuala Lumpur | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 90.99361111111111 | 83.65333333333334 | 7.3402777777777715 |
| Productivity | 78 | 74 | 4 |
| Sustainability | 74 | 72 | 2 |
| Lifestyle | 64 | 67 | 3 |
| Tax | 65 | 75 | 10 |
| Total | 78 A | 76 A | 2 |
Side-by-side
| Category | Chiang Mai | Kuala Lumpur | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb (monthly) | $478 | $840 | 43% |
| Long-term lease | $322 | $560 | 43% |
| Food — local | $222 | $249 | 11% |
| Food — Western | $569 | $572 | ≈ |
| Coworking (monthly) | $85 | $129 | 34% |
| Specialty coffee (cup) | $2.83 | $2.77 | ≈ |
| Mobile data / SIM (monthly) | $12 | $14 | 14% |
| Gym — chain (monthly) | $28 | $28 | ≈ |
| Gym — boutique (monthly) | $75 | $75 | ≈ |
| Laundry per load | $1.40 | $1.40 | ≈ |
| Transit pass (monthly) | $25.23 | $29.48 | 14% |
| Tourist visa | $40 | — | ≈ |
| Nomad visa (year) | $1,200 | $850 | 29% |
| Chicken breast (100g) | $0.50 | $0.69 | 28% |
Chiang Mai
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Kuala Lumpur
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