Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Balikpapan is 16.6% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 7.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Balikpapan is 0.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 12.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50 Rp 25.5K
$2.03 ฿64.6
-26.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.05 Rp 255.0K
$18.59 ฿593
-19.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.47 Rp 58.8K
$7.48 ฿238
-53.61%
Cappuccino
$1.81 Rp 30.7K
$2.00 ฿63.7
-9.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 6,838
$0.85 ฿27.01
-52.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 6,563
$0.35 ฿11.21
11.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 Rp 33.4K
$2.21 ฿70.5
-10.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 50.5K
$3.76 ฿120
-20.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 Rp 30.6K
$1.72 ฿54.8
4.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 Rp 21.6K
$1.63 ฿52.1
-21.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 Rp 21.4K
$1.16 ฿36.93
8.62%
Eggs
$2.71 Rp 46.0K
$1.98 ฿63.1
36.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.14 Rp 137.8K
$15.93 ฿508
-48.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.01 Rp 84.8K
$3.17 ฿101
58.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.96 Rp 134.9K
$10.90 ฿348
-26.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 Rp 62.1K
$2.65 ฿84.3
38.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 25.3K
$1.22 ฿38.98
22.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 Rp 35.9K
$1.70 ฿54.1
24.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 20.3K
$1.59 ฿50.7
-24.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 30.3K
$1.32 ฿42.21
35.61%
Onion (1kg)
$3.63 Rp 61.5K
$1.17 ฿37.25
210.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 17.0K
$0.68 ฿21.61
47.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 13.4K
$0.56 ฿17.76
41.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 Rp 33.9K
$4.51 ฿144
-55.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.73 Rp 368.0K
$19.07 ฿608
13.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 Rp 36.0K
$1.77 ฿56.4
19.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 Rp 75.0K
$3.18 ฿101
39.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 Rp 10.7K
$0.96 ฿30.70
-34.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.79 Rp 165.8K
$18.90 ฿602
-48.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 Rp 20.3K
$1.36 ฿43.29
-11.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 5,898
$1.35 ฿43.11
-74.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.97 Rp 101.1K
$8.03 ฿256
-25.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 13.5K
$1.24 ฿39.62
-35.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 418.7M
$21.2K ฿674.7K
16.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K Rp 439.9M
$21.8K ฿693.5K
19.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 Rp 1.6M
$71.2 ฿2,271
30.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.05 Rp 51.7K
$14.09 ฿449
-78.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.82 Rp 539.0K
$17.47 ฿557
82.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.71 Rp 367.7K
$42.07 ฿1,341
-48.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.19 Rp 104.8K
$6.88 ฿219
-10.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.12 Rp 52.9K
$5.94 ฿189
-47.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.9 Rp 1.0M
$307 ฿9,799
-80.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,494 Rp 126.9M
$14.8K ฿471.6K
-49.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.78 Rp 707.7K
$55.7 ฿1,775
-24.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.79 Rp 352.2K
$26.79 ฿854
-22.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 Rp 2.1M
$83.2 ฿2,653
50.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 Rp 2.1M
$70.1 ฿2,235
76.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$220 Rp 3.7M
$427 ฿13.6K
-48.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.6M
$237 ฿7,559
-35.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 Rp 8.5M
$802 ฿25.6K
-37.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.1M
$503 ฿16.0K
-39.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,354 Rp 22.9M
$2,061 ฿65.7K
-34.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 Rp 13.6M
$1,533 ฿48.9K
-47.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$205 Rp 3.5M
$654 ฿20.8K
-68.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
5
200.00%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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