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

🙂 Solo nomad: Balikpapan is 11% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Balikpapan is 4.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57 Rp 25.4K
$2.02 ฿65.3
-22.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.51 Rp 251.8K
$18.78 ฿608
-17.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.31 Rp 53.8K
$7.67 ฿248
-56.84%
Cappuccino
$1.56 Rp 25.3K
$1.98 ฿64.2
-21.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 Rp 7,077
$0.82 ฿26.64
-46.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 6,672
$0.33 ฿10.58
24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 Rp 31.7K
$2.12 ฿68.6
-8.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 48.3K
$3.73 ฿121
-20.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 Rp 29.7K
$1.64 ฿53.2
11.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.3 Rp 21K
$1.57 ฿50.9
-17.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 21.7K
$1.19 ฿38.62
11.76%
Eggs
$2.72 Rp 44.1K
$1.98 ฿64.1
37.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.09 Rp 391K
$15.99 ฿517
50.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.03 Rp 81.7K
$3.12 ฿101
61.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.95 Rp 129K
$11.16 ฿361
-28.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.65 Rp 59.3K
$2.76 ฿89.2
32.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 24.7K
$1.22 ฿39.5
24.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 Rp 34K
$1.71 ฿55.4
22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.2 Rp 19.4K
$1.55 ฿50.2
-22.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 30.1K
$1.34 ฿43.21
38.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.77 Rp 61.3K
$1.21 ฿39.23
211.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 17.2K
$0.72 ฿23.2
47.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 Rp 12.1K
$0.53 ฿17.05
39.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07 Rp 33.7K
$4.72 ฿153
-56.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.9 Rp 193.1K
$18.39 ฿595
-35.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 Rp 34.5K
$1.79 ฿57.9
18.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 Rp 67.9K
$3.21 ฿104
30.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 Rp 10.1K
$0.94 ฿30.44
-34.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.62 Rp 156.2K
$18.9 ฿612
-49.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.2 Rp 19.4K
$1.42 ฿46.08
-15.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 5,587
$1.35 ฿43.53
-74.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.2 Rp 100.7K
$7.85 ฿254
-21.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 Rp 12K
$1.25 ฿40.4
-40.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 403M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
17.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K Rp 408.8M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
15.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.6 Rp 1.5M
$70.6 ฿2,285
28.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.09 Rp 50.2K
$13.72 ฿444
-77.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.1 Rp 521K
$17.56 ฿568
82.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.72 Rp 352.5K
$41.64 ฿1,347
-47.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.64 Rp 399.9K
$6.9 ฿223
257.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11 Rp 50.5K
$5.8 ฿188
-46.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$62 Rp 1M
$308 ฿9,963
-79.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,459 Rp 121.1M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-49.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.26 Rp 669.7K
$55.4 ฿1,793
-25.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.45 Rp 331.9K
$26.4 ฿854
-22.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 Rp 2M
$85.1 ฿2,755
48.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 Rp 2M
$71.8 ฿2,323
68.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$219 Rp 3.6M
$434 ฿14K
-49.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.5M
$235 ฿7,610
-33.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8M
$821 ฿26.6K
-39.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 Rp 4.9M
$498 ฿16.1K
-39.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,275 Rp 20.7M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-41.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$848 Rp 13.8M
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-45.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balikpapan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$210 Rp 3.4M
$703 ฿22.8K
-70.16%
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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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