Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Canggu, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,614 in Canggu, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Canggu, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Canggu, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Canggu, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,614 in Canggu, Bali, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Canggu, Bali $1,614

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,732 in Canggu, Bali, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Canggu, Bali $2,732

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,849 in Canggu, Bali, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Canggu, Bali $3,849

Chiang Mai is about 42% cheaper than Canggu, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Canggu, Bali is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.6
$4.05 Rp 73.3K
-47.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿624
$40.89 Rp 740.1K
-54.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿188
$6.61 Rp 119.7K
-15.28%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.8
$3.26 Rp 59.0K
-49.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.69
$1.96 Rp 35.5K
-66.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.22
$0.83 Rp 15.1K
-63.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.9
$3.17 Rp 57.4K
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$5.17 Rp 93.6K
-29.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.6
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
31.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.21
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
-41.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.67
$1.20 Rp 21.7K
15.83%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.4
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
12.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿554
$16.52 Rp 299.0K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.5
$4.19 Rp 75.8K
-36.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿302
$11.97 Rp 216.7K
-24.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.4
$3.84 Rp 69.5K
-37.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.91
$1.68 Rp 30.4K
-38.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.6
$2.45 Rp 44.4K
-32.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.3
$2.06 Rp 37.2K
-24.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.50
$1.93 Rp 35.0K
-35.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.44
$2.55 Rp 46.2K
-57.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.54
$1.08 Rp 19.6K
-29.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.24
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿138
$2.29 Rp 41.5K
79.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿601
$22.74 Rp 411.7K
-21.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$2.39 Rp 43.3K
-32.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.6
$3.02 Rp 54.8K
-6.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.33
$0.30 Rp 5,512
210.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,773
$10.60 Rp 191.9K
398.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.45
$0.57 Rp 10.3K
107.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.75
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
-69.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.8
$2.71 Rp 49.1K
-33.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.38
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
38.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿704.5K
$28.9K Rp 523.6M
-27.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿889.1K
$39.0K Rp 706.1M
-32.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,098
$82.1 Rp 1.5M
-23.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿389
$6.42 Rp 116.3K
80.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿681
$20.66 Rp 374.1K
-1.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,270
$60.0 Rp 1.1M
-36.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
$21.30 Rp 385.6K
-82.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$5.10 Rp 92.4K
27.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.4K
$521 Rp 9.4M
39.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿555.7K
$13.4K Rp 242.5M
23.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,795
$47.49 Rp 859.6K
12.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿832
$35.98 Rp 651.4K
-31.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,031
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
10.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,413
$82.1 Rp 1.5M
-12.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.1K
$1,389 Rp 25.1M
-65.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$886 Rp 16.0M
-65.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.5K
$4,633 Rp 83.9M
-77.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.1K
$2,183 Rp 39.5M
-69.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.1K
$3,127 Rp 56.6M
-22.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿53.9K
$2,911 Rp 52.7M
-44.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Canggu, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.78
-59.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Canggu, Bali: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Canggu, Bali
$886 186% $576
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Canggu, Bali
$294 24.2% $57
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Canggu, Bali
$111 2.8% $3.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Canggu, Bali
$109 15.6% $15
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Canggu, Bali
$129 68.1% $52
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Canggu, Bali
$15 74.1% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Canggu, Bali
$70 37.8% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $1,389 in Canggu, 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 in Chiang Mai versus $41 in Canggu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $294 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇩 Canggu, Bali
🕒 Local time
03:00 3:00 AM
04:00 4:00 AM
1 h ahead of Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
40,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,103 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,231 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Canggu, Bali 3,530 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Canggu, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Canggu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Canggu, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $935 in Chiang Mai, $1,614 in Canggu, Bali – Chiang Mai comes out roughly 42% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Canggu, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,421 in Canggu, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Canggu, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,389 in Canggu, Bali.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Canggu, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,614 in Canggu, Bali. That makes Chiang Mai about 42% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Canggu, Bali?
Public transport costs about 80% less in Canggu, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,614 in Canggu, Bali. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should digital nomads live: Chiang Mai or Canggu, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $935 versus $1,614 in Canggu, Bali. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Is Chiang Mai or Canggu, Bali safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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