😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Cemagi, Bali versus $872 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Cemagi, Bali versus $1,337 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,047 in Cemagi, Bali versus $1,802 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Cemagi, Bali is roughly 38% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cemagi, Bali11% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.95Rp 50.5K
$2.01฿64.5
46.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.99Rp 462.4K
$18.23฿584
48.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.21Rp 72.1K
$7.65฿245
-44.97%
Cappuccino
$2.29Rp 39.2K
$1.92฿61.5
19.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14Rp 19.5K
$0.84฿26.96
35.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61Rp 10.5K
$0.36฿11.42
69.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39Rp 41.0K
$2.19฿70.2
9.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 53.9K
$3.79฿121
-17.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73Rp 29.6K
$1.64฿52.5
5.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30Rp 39.5K
$1.62฿51.9
41.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 19.7K
$1.15฿36.96
-
Eggs
$2.35Rp 40.3K
$1.94฿62.1
21.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.87Rp 237.8K
$15.94฿511
-12.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06Rp 69.5K
$3.10฿99.4
30.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.22Rp 192.3K
$11.07฿355
1.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66Rp 62.7K
$2.71฿86.7
35.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53Rp 26.2K
$1.18฿37.77
29.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58Rp 44.2K
$1.71฿54.6
50.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.6K
$1.61฿51.4
32.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 32.7K
$1.39฿44.63
37.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15Rp 36.9K
$1.15฿36.78
86.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04Rp 17.7K
$0.71฿22.81
46.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74Rp 12.7K
$0.55฿17.63
34.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 53.6K
$4.57฿146
-31.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.54Rp 386.2K
$18.87฿605
19.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71Rp 46.5K
$1.82฿58.3
48.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64Rp 45.3K
$3.21฿103
-17.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,564
$0.88฿28.23
-63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.84Rp 151.5K
$18.89฿605
-53.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50Rp 8,576
$1.41฿45.27
-64.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 7,870
$1.30฿41.68
-64.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.59Rp 113.0K
$8.20฿263
-19.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95Rp 16.2K
$1.23฿39.27
-22.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KRp 499.6M
$21.2K฿678.5K
37.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 598.1M
$22.3K฿714.9K
56.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.1Rp 1.4M
$69.9฿2,239
14.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.02Rp 68.9K
$14.07฿451
-71.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.67Rp 405.6K
$17.70฿567
33.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.2Rp 1.5M
$41.41฿1,327
110.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.96Rp 102.1K
$6.69฿214
-10.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.68Rp 63.0K
$5.74฿184
-35.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286Rp 4.9M
$299฿9,587
-4.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,194Rp 106.1M
$15.0K฿480.9K
-58.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1Rp 874.8K
$54.8฿1,756
-6.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.78Rp 613.1K
$26.35฿844
35.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9Rp 1.4M
$84.7฿2,712
-2.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0Rp 1.3M
$69.7฿2,234
4.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$739Rp 12.7M
$427฿13.7K
73.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$491Rp 8.4M
$241฿7,713
103.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,549Rp 43.7M
$811฿26.0K
214.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,533Rp 26.3M
$498฿16.0K
207.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,258Rp 38.7M
$2,022฿64.8K
11.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,726Rp 29.6M
$1,524฿48.8K
13.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cemagi, Bali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$639฿20.5K
-
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: April 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $739 in Cemagi, Bali and $427 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27 in Cemagi, Bali vs $18 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 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 38% in total monthly costs ($1,204 vs $872 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 $1,805 in Cemagi, Bali and $1,308 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: $739 in Cemagi, Bali versus $427 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 $872 in Chiang Mai versus $1,204 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 38% 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