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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $926 in Amed, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,599 in Amed, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,273 in Amed, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Amed, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Amed, Bali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Amed, Bali 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

-11.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$20.08 Rp 362.2K

-7.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.15 Rp 56.8K

148.25%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.72 Rp 30.9K

13.37%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.89 Rp 16.0K

-4.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.47 Rp 8,486

-25.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.80 Rp 32.5K

18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.47 Rp 44.5K

51.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.53 Rp 27.5K

11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.09 Rp 37.7K

-22.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.02 Rp 18.4K

11.76%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.04 Rp 36.8K

-5.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$12.68 Rp 228.7K

27.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.75 Rp 67.6K

-16.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.48 Rp 189.0K

4.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.22 Rp 58.0K

-14.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.33 Rp 24.1K

-9.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

-30.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.01 Rp 36.3K

-20.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.70 Rp 30.6K

-17.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.88 Rp 33.9K

-37.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.92 Rp 16.6K

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.66 Rp 11.9K

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

71.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$20.44 Rp 368.5K

-8.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.39 Rp 43.0K

-24.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

31.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.23 Rp 4,120

291.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$6.87 Rp 123.9K

179.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.41 Rp 7,463

243.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.35 Rp 6,399

268.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.25 Rp 94.7K

49.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

71.62%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$22.5K Rp 406.5M

-5.61%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.2K Rp 491.0M

-18.41%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-9.97%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.86 Rp 69.7K

264.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.43 Rp 404.5K

-19.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$65.4 Rp 1.2M

-37.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.40 Rp 79.3K

58.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.73 Rp 49.3K

116.85%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$248 Rp 4.5M

20.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,501 Rp 99.2M

171.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$49.34 Rp 889.7K

10.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$34.60 Rp 624.0K

-22.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$79.3 Rp 1.4M

7.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$70.8 Rp 1.3M

-0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$479 Rp 8.6M

-10.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$322 Rp 5.8M

-26.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,626 Rp 29.3M

-50.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$979 Rp 17.7M

-47.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,312 Rp 23.7M

50.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,097 Rp 19.8M

34.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-62.35%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Amed, Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $479 in Amed, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Amed, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $258 – making Chiang Mai 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

Chiang Mai vs Amed, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amed, Bali costs about 7% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,389 in Amed, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 180% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $248 in Amed, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Amed, Bali at $926. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amed, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $926 in Amed, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amed, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.