Cost of Living Comparison Between Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,179 in Cemagi, Bali versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,101 in Cemagi, Bali versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,023 in Cemagi, Bali versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Cemagi, Bali is roughly 36% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cemagi, Bali 12% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 Rp 53.0K
$1.94 ฿63.8
51.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.63 Rp 480.2K
$18.64 ฿611
42.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.12 Rp 74.4K
$7.82 ฿256
-47.31%
Cappuccino
$2.26 Rp 40.7K
$1.95 ฿64.1
15.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$0.85 ฿27.88
30.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 Rp 11.0K
$0.35 ฿11.63
74.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 Rp 45.6K
$2.13 ฿69.9
18.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 Rp 56.9K
$3.73 ฿122
-15.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 Rp 30.1K
$1.71 ฿56.2
-2.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 42.1K
$1.63 ฿53.4
42.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 20.4K
$1.14 ฿37.30
-0.88%
Eggs
$2.35 Rp 42.4K
$1.93 ฿63.4
21.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.05 Rp 253.3K
$16.21 ฿532
-13.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.5K
$3.12 ฿102
34.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.39 Rp 205.4K
$10.90 ฿357
4.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 Rp 63.6K
$2.75 ฿90.3
28.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 Rp 26.6K
$1.21 ฿39.68
22.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 Rp 46.5K
$1.62 ฿53.2
59.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 Rp 38.7K
$1.59 ฿52.0
34.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.3K
$1.40 ฿45.89
35.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 Rp 39.0K
$1.17 ฿38.32
84.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 Rp 17.6K
$0.66 ฿21.69
48.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 Rp 13.4K
$0.53 ฿17.29
39.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16 Rp 57.0K
$4.69 ฿154
-32.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.59 Rp 407.4K
$18.66 ฿612
21.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 Rp 49.5K
$1.80 ฿59.0
52.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 Rp 47.1K
$3.23 ฿106
-19.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,388
$0.90 ฿29.37
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.28 Rp 167.4K
$19.21 ฿630
-51.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,921
$1.41 ฿46.10
-65.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,422
$1.29 ฿42.29
-63.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.77 Rp 122.1K
$7.84 ฿257
-13.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 Rp 16.8K
$1.27 ฿41.75
-26.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K Rp 516.0M
$21.3K ฿697.7K
34.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K Rp 649.2M
$22.2K ฿728.3K
62.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
$69.1 ฿2,265
16.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.2K
$14.08 ฿462
-71.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.07 Rp 434.1K
$18.00 ฿590
33.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.9 Rp 1.6M
$41.06 ฿1,346
114.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 Rp 105.7K
$6.96 ฿228
-15.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.68 Rp 66.4K
$5.92 ฿194
-37.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 Rp 5.2M
$299 ฿9,805
-4.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,191 Rp 111.7M
$15.0K ฿490.3K
-58.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 Rp 942.0K
$54.7 ฿1,794
-4.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.49 Rp 658.0K
$26.77 ฿878
36.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 Rp 1.5M
$85.0 ฿2,787
-0.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9 Rp 1.4M
$70.6 ฿2,315
6.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 Rp 13.1M
$428 ฿14.0K
70.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$489 Rp 8.8M
$237 ฿7,782
105.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,486 Rp 44.8M
$801 ฿26.3K
210.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,542 Rp 27.8M
$515 ฿16.9K
199.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,044 Rp 36.9M
$1,975 ฿64.7K
3.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,669 Rp 30.1M
$1,475 ฿48.4K
13.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
5
165.60%

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

Last update for Cemagi, Bali: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $728 in Cemagi, Bali and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Cemagi, Bali vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $246 per month, with Chiang Mai 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
Cemagi, Bali vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai?
Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,179 vs $866 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Cemagi, Bali compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $1,769 in Cemagi, Bali and $1,300 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $728 in Cemagi, Bali versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $286 in Cemagi, Bali versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Cemagi, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,179 in Cemagi, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Cemagi, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai?
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.
Is Cemagi, Bali or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cemagi, Bali 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.
Where should expats move: Cemagi, Bali or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Cemagi, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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