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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $713 in Bogor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $800 in Bogor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $886 in Bogor.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 31% more expensive than in Bogor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Bogor 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$1.31 Rp 23.2K
58.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$8.39 Rp 148.6K
133.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$2.50 Rp 44.3K
126.80%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$0.90 Rp 15.9K
101.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$0.34 Rp 6,082
126.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$0.13 Rp 2,267
169.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
$1.97 Rp 34.8K
12.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$2.85 Rp 50.4K
32.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.10 Rp 19.6K
86.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$0.99 Rp 17.6K
52.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
84.21%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$1.43 Rp 25.3K
58.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
$5.59 Rp 99.0K
189.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
$2.89 Rp 51.3K
0.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$5.68 Rp 100.6K
65.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
$2.29 Rp 40.5K
17.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
$1.10 Rp 19.4K
-0.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
$1.51 Rp 26.7K
7.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
$0.90 Rp 15.9K
62.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
19.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
$1.74 Rp 30.8K
-39.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$0.71 Rp 12.5K
1.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
$0.41 Rp 7,192
29.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$2.01 Rp 35.5K
110.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
$17.23 Rp 305.1K
6.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
0.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
$2.41 Rp 42.6K
20.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
$0.29 Rp 5,221
203.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
$6.92 Rp 122.6K
677.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
$0.45 Rp 7,922
160.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$0.30 Rp 5,357
93.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
$1.44 Rp 25.5K
65.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
$0.79 Rp 13.9K
83.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
$23.5K Rp 416.6M
-10.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
$22.8K Rp 403.4M
15.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,125
$34.25 Rp 606.4K
85.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
$4.49 Rp 79.5K
187.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
$14.84 Rp 262.8K
38.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
$42.93 Rp 760.1K
-9.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
$2.78 Rp 49.3K
41.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$2.87 Rp 50.9K
129.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
$94.9 Rp 1.7M
726.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
$8,253 Rp 146.1M
77.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
$39.43 Rp 698.2K
39.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
$18.59 Rp 329.2K
33.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
$77.8 Rp 1.4M
20.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
$71.1 Rp 1.3M
4.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
$254 Rp 4.5M
92.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
$308 Rp 5.5M
-6.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
$567 Rp 10.0M
57.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$576 Rp 10.2M
242.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
$280 Rp 5.0M
415.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bogor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
$334 Rp 5.9M
80.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
7.67
-27.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bogor: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $254 in Bogor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 80% 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $8.00 in Bogor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $168 per month, with Bogor 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 Bogor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Bogor?
Bogor wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bogor the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chiang Mai or in Bogor?
Average pay runs 80% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Bogor?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $254 in Bogor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Bogor?
A monthly transit pass in Bogor runs roughly 677% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Bogor?
Childcare runs $784 in Chiang Mai versus $94.9 in Bogor. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Bogor?
At $713 in Bogor versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bogor but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Bogor the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Bogor?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bogor delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $713 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bogor hard to pass up.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Bogor?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bogor are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bogor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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