Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Balikpapan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Balikpapan

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 12.3% more expensive than Balikpapan without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 4.2% cheaper than Balikpapan without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$1.57 Rp 25.4K
28.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$15.51 Rp 251.8K
21.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$3.31 Rp 53.8K
131.72%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.56 Rp 25.3K
26.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.44 Rp 7,077
86.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.41 Rp 6,672
-19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.95 Rp 31.7K
8.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.98 Rp 48.3K
25.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.83 Rp 29.7K
-10.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.3 Rp 21K
20.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.33 Rp 21.7K
-10.53%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.72 Rp 44.1K
-27.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$24.09 Rp 391K
-33.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.03 Rp 81.7K
-37.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$7.95 Rp 129K
40.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.65 Rp 59.3K
-24.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.52 Rp 24.7K
-19.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.09 Rp 34K
-18.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.2 Rp 19.4K
29.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.86 Rp 30.1K
-27.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$3.77 Rp 61.3K
-67.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.06 Rp 17.2K
-32.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.74 Rp 12.1K
-28.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.07 Rp 33.7K
128.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$11.9 Rp 193.1K
54.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.13 Rp 34.5K
-15.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$4.19 Rp 67.9K
-23.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.62 Rp 10.1K
51.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$9.62 Rp 156.2K
96.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.2 Rp 19.4K
18.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.34 Rp 5,587
297.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$6.2 Rp 100.7K
26.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.74 Rp 12K
68.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$24.8K Rp 403M
-14.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$25.2K Rp 408.8M
-13.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$90.6 Rp 1.5M
-22.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$3.09 Rp 50.2K
344.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$32.1 Rp 521K
-45.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$21.72 Rp 352.5K
91.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$24.64 Rp 399.9K
-72.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.11 Rp 50.5K
86.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$62 Rp 1M
396.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$7,459 Rp 121.1M
97.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$41.26 Rp 669.7K
34.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$20.45 Rp 331.9K
29.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$126 Rp 2M
-32.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$121 Rp 2M
-40.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$219 Rp 3.6M
98.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$156 Rp 2.5M
50.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$494 Rp 8M
66.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$304 Rp 4.9M
64.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,275 Rp 20.7M
70.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$848 Rp 13.8M
81.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Balikpapan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$210 Rp 3.4M
235.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
15
-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Balikpapan: October 27, 2025

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