Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cimahi

For one person, living is cheaper in Cimahi: $566 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Cimahi, Indonesia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Cimahi
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$566
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Cimahi

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 Cimahi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $566 in Cimahi, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Cimahi $566

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $949 in Cimahi, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Cimahi $949

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,331 in Cimahi, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Cimahi $1,331

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Cimahi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Cimahi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Cimahi 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
31.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$13.70 Rp 248.4K
38.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$3.24 Rp 58.7K
71.30%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.53 Rp 27.8K
9.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.43 Rp 7,785
48.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.24 Rp 4,374
29.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$2.50 Rp 45.3K
-5.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$2.96 Rp 53.7K
23.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.08 Rp 19.5K
80.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$0.98 Rp 17.7K
46.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
54.65%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
56.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$6.92 Rp 125.5K
137.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$2.89 Rp 52.5K
-3.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$8.01 Rp 145.2K
16.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.24 Rp 40.6K
4.91%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
-5.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
9.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
57.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
21.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$1.94 Rp 35.3K
-43.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.63 Rp 11.5K
12.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.39 Rp 7,122
25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.58 Rp 46.8K
60.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$20.91 Rp 379.3K
-16.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.80 Rp 32.6K
-10.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.98 Rp 54.0K
-6.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.25 Rp 4,524
248.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$10.88 Rp 197.3K
397.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$0.53 Rp 9,559
118.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.32 Rp 5,749
65.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
8.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
79.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$20.6K Rp 373.8M
2.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$31.5K Rp 570.6M
-14.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$33.33 Rp 604.5K
86.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$4.32 Rp 78.4K
181.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$19.04 Rp 345.4K
5.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$17.99 Rp 326.3K
107.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$8.40 Rp 152.4K
-55.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$2.69 Rp 48.7K
141.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$91.3 Rp 1.7M
706.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$7,947 Rp 144.1M
85.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$39.15 Rp 710.1K
36.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$28.39 Rp 514.9K
-13.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
29.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$70.2 Rp 1.3M
2.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$197 Rp 3.6M
144.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$127 Rp 2.3M
143.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$561 Rp 10.2M
79.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$380 Rp 6.9M
66.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$1,318 Rp 23.9M
79.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$866 Rp 15.7M
83.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$247 Rp 4.5M
138.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.46
-41.12%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Cimahi: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Cimahi
$127 58.9% $182
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Cimahi
$188 19.7% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Cimahi
$94 13.6% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Cimahi
$57 40% $38
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Cimahi
$63 19.1% $15
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Cimahi
$14 77.2% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Cimahi
$23 53.5% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $197 in Cimahi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $14 in Cimahi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $188 – making Cimahi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇩 Cimahi
🕒 Local time
17:40 5:40 PM
17:40 5:40 PM
Same time as Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
561,386
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,241 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Cimahi 3,000 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Cimahi

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 Cimahi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Cimahi?
Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Cimahi, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Cimahi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $848 in Cimahi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Cimahi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cimahi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $197 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Cimahi?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $91 in Cimahi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Cimahi?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Cimahi?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Cimahi, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Cimahi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Cimahi?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cimahi costs $566 versus $936 in Chiang Mai. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Cimahi?
If budget matters most, go with Cimahi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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