😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,179 in Cemagi, Bali versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,087 in Cemagi, Bali versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,996 in Cemagi, Bali versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Cemagi, Bali is roughly 37% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cemagi, Bali12% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90Rp 51.8K
$1.96฿66.0
47.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.10Rp 485.2K
$18.35฿618
47.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.12Rp 73.8K
$7.48฿252
-44.92%
Cappuccino
$2.30Rp 41.2K
$2.02฿68.0
13.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15Rp 20.6K
$0.85฿28.57
35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58Rp 10.4K
$0.36฿11.99
61.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.8K
$2.14฿72.0
16.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18Rp 57.0K
$3.59฿121
-11.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72Rp 30.9K
$1.65฿55.6
4.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42Rp 43.4K
$1.57฿52.8
54.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.8K
$1.19฿40.12
-6.72%
Eggs
$2.24Rp 40.1K
$1.94฿65.2
15.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.11Rp 252.6K
$16.19฿546
-12.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.09Rp 73.2K
$2.99฿101
36.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.54Rp 206.6K
$10.94฿369
5.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.59Rp 64.2K
$2.71฿91.4
32.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.5K
$1.17฿39.34
31.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60Rp 46.6K
$1.69฿56.9
53.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16Rp 38.7K
$1.60฿54.1
35.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.9K
$1.38฿46.65
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.0K
$1.20฿40.54
81.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.0K
$0.67฿22.55
50.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.3K
$0.56฿18.77
23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03Rp 54.2K
$4.64฿156
-34.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.83Rp 390.9K
$17.62฿594
23.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72Rp 48.8K
$1.86฿62.7
46.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 49.1K
$3.30฿111
-16.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,358
$0.88฿29.75
-65.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.08Rp 162.6K
$19.34฿652
-53.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50Rp 8,880
$1.36฿46.01
-63.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50Rp 9,001
$1.34฿45.08
-62.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.74Rp 120.7K
$8.21฿277
-17.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94Rp 16.9K
$1.22฿41.28
-22.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KRp 522.4M
$21.4K฿719.8K
36.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KRp 628.1M
$22.5K฿759.5K
55.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.0Rp 1.5M
$70.7฿2,382
14.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00Rp 71.6K
$14.04฿473
-71.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.07Rp 431.0K
$17.49฿590
37.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.4Rp 1.6M
$42.15฿1,421
112.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04Rp 108.1K
$6.88฿232
-12.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.78Rp 67.7K
$5.92฿200
-36.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$291Rp 5.2M
$309฿10.4K
-5.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,323Rp 113.2M
$14.9K฿501.5K
-57.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0Rp 930.2K
$55.8฿1,880
-6.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.94Rp 661.4K
$26.11฿880
41.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.0Rp 1.5M
$83.0฿2,798
1.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4Rp 1.3M
$70.5฿2,375
4.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$747Rp 13.4M
$432฿14.6K
72.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$492Rp 8.8M
$239฿8,054
105.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,499Rp 44.7M
$822฿27.7K
203.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,541Rp 27.6M
$512฿17.3K
200.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,006Rp 35.9M
$1,915฿64.5K
4.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,671Rp 29.9M
$1,467฿49.5K
13.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $747 in Cemagi, Bali and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Cemagi, Bali vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $243 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 in Chiang Mai?
Cemagi, Bali and Chiang Mai differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,179 vs $861 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 $1,768 in Cemagi, Bali and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $747 in Cemagi, Bali versus $432 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 $291 in Cemagi, Bali versus $309 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 17% 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 $861 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 37% less than in Cemagi, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cemagi, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared