Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bandar Lampung Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bandar Lampung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $553 in Bandar Lampung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $857 in Bandar Lampung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,162 in Bandar Lampung.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 56% more expensive than in Bandar Lampung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bandar Lampung 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.70 Rp 30.5K

15.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$12.40 Rp 222.9K

47.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.20 Rp 57.4K

133.75%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

100.00%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.36 Rp 6,547

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.24 Rp 4,270

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.99 Rp 35.7K

7.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.16 Rp 56.7K

13.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

39.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.94 Rp 17.0K

67.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.77 Rp 13.9K

54.55%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.35 Rp 24.3K

43.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$6.41 Rp 115.2K

152.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.87 Rp 51.5K

4.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.02 Rp 108.2K

81.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

38.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

10.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.35 Rp 24.2K

25.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

9.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

17.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.67 Rp 30.0K

-28.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.56 Rp 10.1K

19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.46 Rp 8,261

21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.86 Rp 33.5K

149.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$20.72 Rp 372.3K

-14.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

22.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.19 Rp 57.3K

3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$10.08 Rp 181.1K

91.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.53 Rp 9,593

156.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.35 Rp 6,287

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$3.02 Rp 54.2K

171.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.66 Rp 11.8K

84.85%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$24.5K Rp 439.7M

-12.72%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$24.2K Rp 435.0M

-6.93%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$43.70 Rp 785.4K

61.72%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$6.69 Rp 120.2K

109.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$27.78 Rp 499.2K

-37.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$23.26 Rp 418.1K

81.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$9.10 Rp 163.5K

-24.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.81 Rp 50.6K

110.68%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$31.10 Rp 558.8K

892.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,597 Rp 172.5M

55.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$23.10 Rp 415.1K

141.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$21.00 Rp 377.4K

24.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$21.54 Rp 387.1K

285.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$40.46 Rp 727.1K

74.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$263 Rp 4.7M

64.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$155 Rp 2.8M

53.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$595 Rp 10.7M

38.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$334 Rp 6.0M

53.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,133 Rp 20.4M

69.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$687 Rp 12.3M

113.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$177 Rp 3.2M

227.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.59

-47.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bandar Lampung: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $263 in Bandar Lampung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 227% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $12.00 in Bandar Lampung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $180 per month, with Bandar Lampung 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

Chiang Mai vs Bandar Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bandar Lampung wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandar Lampung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 227% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $263 in Bandar Lampung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bandar Lampung – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $553 in Bandar Lampung – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bandar Lampung gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bandar Lampung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $553 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandar Lampung hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bandar Lampung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bandar Lampung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.