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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 49.7% cheaper than Ballina without rent, and 61.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 41.8% cheaper than Ballina without rent, and 57.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$16.38 A$25.09
-87.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$79.3 A$121
-76.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.75 A$14.94
-21.33%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.35 A$5.12
-40.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.58 A$3.96
-68.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.17 A$3.33
-84.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.34 A$9.71
-66.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$7.1 A$10.88
-47.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.38 A$3.64
-31.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$3.07 A$4.71
-48.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.96 A$3
-39.29%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$5.42 A$8.3
-63.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$5.99 A$9.18
166.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.3 A$12.71
-62.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$13.7 A$20.98
-18.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.3 A$5.05
-16.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.8 A$4.29
-56.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.88 A$4.41
-40.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$3.31 A$5.07
-53.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.39 A$3.66
-43.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.17 A$3.32
-44.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$3.15 A$4.83
-77.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.54 A$2.35
-65.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$30.7 A$47.03
-84.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.11 A$20.08
40.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$4.56 A$6.98
-60.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$5.27 A$8.07
-39.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.67 A$4.09
-64.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$65.2 A$99.9
-71.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.67 A$5.62
-61.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.55 A$2.38
-12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$33.89 A$51.9
-76.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.13 A$1.73
10.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$28.5K A$43.7K
-25.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22.5K A$34.4K
-2.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$180 A$276
-60.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$27.57 A$42.24
-50.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$52.7 A$80.7
-66.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$49.42 A$75.7
-15.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$15.58 A$23.86
-55.71%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$13.09 A$20.06
-55.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,606 A$2,460
-80.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$12.1K A$18.6K
21.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$66.8 A$102
-17.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$49.56 A$75.9
-46.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$100 A$154
-15.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$106 A$163
-32.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,255 A$1,923
-65.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$1,046 A$1,602
-77.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,986 A$3,042
-58.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,674 A$2,565
-70.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$5,199 A$7,965
-58.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$5,011 A$7,678
-69.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ballina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.34
-21.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ballina: October 27, 2025

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