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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Balikpapan versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Balikpapan versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Balikpapan versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 8% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 41% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$2.04 ฿68.2

-22.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.12 Rp 273.0K

$18.71 ฿624

-19.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 Rp 59.9K

$7.86 ฿262

-57.76%

Cappuccino

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$2.03 ฿67.7

-11.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,361

$0.80 ฿26.64

-48.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,938

$0.35 ฿11.68

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

$2.14 ฿71.5

-8.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 Rp 55.8K

$3.67 ฿122

-15.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

$1.73 ฿57.6

9.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 Rp 22.1K

$1.57 ฿52.4

-22.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

$1.20 ฿39.99

9.17%

Eggs

$2.67 Rp 48.2K

$1.97 ฿65.8

35.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 Rp 149.0K

$16.23 ฿541

-49.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$3.06 ฿102

63.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 Rp 139.3K

$10.80 ฿360

-28.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 Rp 67.8K

$2.77 ฿92.3

35.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.17 ฿38.94

29.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 38.3K

$1.71 ฿57.0

23.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.8K

$1.59 ฿53.2

-20.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.39 ฿46.51

28.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 Rp 67.6K

$1.16 ฿38.56

222.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.66 ฿22.05

40.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$0.52 ฿17.31

51.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 Rp 36.4K

$4.65 ฿155

-56.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.19 Rp 364.5K

$17.78 ฿593

13.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 39.3K

$1.79 ฿59.6

21.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$3.34 ฿111

31.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 Rp 10.5K

$0.91 ฿30.27

-36.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 Rp 182.7K

$18.64 ฿622

-45.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$1.41 ฿47.04

-14.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,708

$1.34 ฿44.70

-72.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.5K

$8.11 ฿270

-25.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$1.23 ฿41.16

-40.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 443.0M

$21.4K ฿715.1K

14.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K Rp 460.1M

$21.8K ฿728.0K

16.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

$71.3 ฿2,379

30.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.12 Rp 56.4K

$14.01 ฿467

-77.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 Rp 585.2K

$17.93 ฿598

80.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.16 Rp 382.0K

$40.82 ฿1,362

-48.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 108.6K

$6.88 ฿230

-12.50%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 54.4K

$5.72 ฿191

-47.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$62.0 Rp 1.1M

$308 ฿10.3K

-79.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,605 Rp 137.3M

$14.7K ฿489.7K

-48.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 Rp 758.8K

$55.8 ฿1,860

-24.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.04 Rp 379.8K

$26.04 ฿869

-19.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.3M

$84.8 ฿2,829

47.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 Rp 2.2M

$71.0 ฿2,368

73.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 Rp 4.0M

$423 ฿14.1K

-47.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$242 ฿8,088

-35.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 Rp 8.8M

$797 ฿26.6K

-38.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 Rp 5.4M

$507 ฿16.9K

-40.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,090 Rp 19.7M

$1,918 ฿64.0K

-43.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 Rp 10.8M

$1,464 ฿48.8K

-59.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 Rp 3.5M

$595 ฿19.9K

-67.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

200.00%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Balikpapan and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 210% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $15.00 in Balikpapan vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $244, with Chiang Mai cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Balikpapan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Balikpapan and Chiang Mai differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $852 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 210% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Balikpapan versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 84% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $62.0 in Balikpapan versus $308 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Balikpapan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Balikpapan and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.