🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $569 in Bandar Lampung versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $864 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,159 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Bandar Lampung costs roughly 34% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandar Lampung58% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.68Rp 30.0K
$1.94฿63.5
-13.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.43Rp 222.0K
$18.64฿609
-33.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 58.1K
$7.82฿255
-58.44%
Cappuccino
$0.96Rp 17.1K
$1.95฿63.8
-50.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,465
$0.85฿27.77
-57.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,272
$0.35฿11.58
-31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03Rp 36.3K
$2.13฿69.6
-4.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26Rp 58.2K
$3.73฿122
-12.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.6K
$1.71฿56.0
-29.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$1.63฿53.2
-41.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$1.14฿37.15
-29.82%
Eggs
$1.41Rp 25.2K
$1.93฿63.1
-26.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.36Rp 113.6K
$16.21฿530
-60.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.04Rp 54.2K
$3.12฿102
-2.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.25Rp 111.5K
$10.90฿356
-42.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.1K
$2.75฿90.0
-28.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05Rp 18.7K
$1.21฿39.52
-13.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35Rp 24.1K
$1.62฿53.0
-16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.41Rp 25.1K
$1.59฿51.8
-11.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.40฿45.70
-16.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75Rp 31.3K
$1.17฿38.17
49.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$0.66฿21.60
-9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,497
$0.53฿17.22
-20.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89Rp 33.7K
$4.69฿153
-59.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.91Rp 373.3K
$18.66฿609
12.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55Rp 27.7K
$1.80฿58.8
-13.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20Rp 57.2K
$3.23฿106
-0.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59Rp 10.6K
$0.90฿29.26
-34.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.54Rp 170.3K
$19.21฿628
-50.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,470
$1.41฿45.91
-62.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,199
$1.29฿42.12
-72.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15Rp 56.2K
$7.84฿256
-59.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67Rp 12.0K
$1.27฿41.58
-47.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 439.8M
$21.3K฿694.9K
15.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KRp 443.9M
$22.2K฿725.4K
11.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.55Rp 777.8K
$69.1฿2,256
-36.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.53Rp 116.6K
$14.08฿460
-53.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.96Rp 481.4K
$18.00฿588
49.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.32Rp 416.5K
$41.06฿1,341
-43.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.23Rp 164.9K
$6.96฿227
32.61%
Cinema Ticket
$2.75Rp 49.1K
$5.92฿193
-53.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$30.38Rp 542.5K
$299฿9,766
-89.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,575Rp 171.0M
$15.0K฿488.3K
-35.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.05Rp 411.6K
$54.7฿1,787
-57.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.56Rp 367.1K
$26.77฿874
-23.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$21.58Rp 385.4K
$85.0฿2,776
-74.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.54Rp 723.9K
$70.6฿2,306
-42.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.6M
$428฿14.0K
-39.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.8M
$237฿7,752
-33.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587Rp 10.5M
$801฿26.2K
-26.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.9M
$515฿16.8K
-36.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,155Rp 20.6M
$1,975฿64.5K
-41.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$727Rp 13.0M
$1,475฿48.2K
-50.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandar Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$180Rp 3.2M
$617฿20.2K
-70.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.59
5
91.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandar Lampung: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Bandar Lampung and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 244% 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: $12.00 in Bandar Lampung vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $246 per month, with Bandar Lampung cheaper across the board.
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
Bandar Lampung vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandar Lampung or Chiang Mai?
Bandar Lampung wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandar Lampung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandar Lampung or Chiang Mai?
On paper, Chiang Mai earns 244% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandar Lampung vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $258 in Bandar Lampung versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bandar Lampung vs Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandar Lampung – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bandar Lampung compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $569 per month in Bandar Lampung versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandar Lampung or Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bandar Lampung gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bandar Lampung or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandar Lampung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $569 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandar Lampung hard to pass up.
How safe is Bandar Lampung compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Bandar Lampung 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandar Lampung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Bandar Lampung vs other spots: cost of living compared