Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $333 per month in Banda Aceh vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $522 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $711 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Banda Aceh is about 65% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Banda Aceh and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Banda Aceh 76% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.31 Rp 40.7K

$2.10 ฿69.6

10.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.06 Rp 124.4K

$19.84 ฿659

-64.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.48 Rp 61.3K

$5.79 ฿192

-39.90%

Cappuccino

$1.20 Rp 21.1K

$1.83 ฿60.7

-34.43%

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

$0.42 Rp 7,352

$0.78 ฿25.74

-46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 Rp 3,853

$0.31 ฿10.42

-29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 Rp 46.1K

$2.34 ฿77.6

11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 Rp 70.2K

$3.70 ฿123

7.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.7K

$2.03 ฿67.4

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

$1.60 ฿53.0

-45.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 Rp 14.4K

$1.42 ฿46.98

-42.25%

Eggs

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

$2.18 ฿72.3

-23.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 Rp 147.3K

$15.91 ฿528

-47.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.62 Rp 46.2K

$3.07 ฿102

-14.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.97 Rp 122.8K

$9.87 ฿328

-29.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 Rp 40.4K

$2.63 ฿87.2

-12.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 Rp 15.6K

$1.10 ฿36.37

-19.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

$1.63 ฿54.1

-50.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 15.3K

$1.53 ฿50.8

-43.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

$1.24 ฿41.33

-30.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.44 Rp 60.6K

$1.13 ฿37.55

204.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.74 ฿24.50

9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 Rp 7,662

$0.50 ฿16.56

-14.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.2K

$4.28 ฿142

-26.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿597

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,836

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 Rp 11.8K

$1.44 ฿47.78

-53.47%

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

$21.2K ฿703.6K

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

$27.3K ฿906.5K

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

$34.11 Rp 601.4K

$64.9 ฿2,156

-47.47%

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

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$13.35 ฿443

-82.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.78 Rp 419.2K

$20.83 ฿692

14.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.15 Rp 178.9K

$40.42 ฿1,342

-74.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.67 Rp 241.0K

$3.95 ฿131

246.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿223

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

$787 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,017 Rp 35.6M

$15.1K ฿502.1K

-86.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 Rp 499.3K

$56.2 ฿1,867

-49.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.27 Rp 392.7K

$24.95 ฿828

-10.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.62 Rp 786.7K

$92.7 ฿3,078

-51.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.27 Rp 498.3K

$75.1 ฿2,494

-62.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,537

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Banda Aceh: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $7.00 in Banda Aceh versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $242 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Banda Aceh vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 185%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $500 per month in Banda Aceh and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 76% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $7.00 in Banda Aceh and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $333, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.