Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $937 in Denpasar, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,548 in Denpasar, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,159 in Denpasar, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Denpasar, Bali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Denpasar, Bali 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.32 Rp 40.9K

-9.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$24.34 Rp 428.6K

-18.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.78 Rp 66.5K

53.17%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.83 Rp 32.3K

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.16 Rp 20.4K

-32.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.51 Rp 8,928

-39.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.03 Rp 35.8K

15.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.98 Rp 52.5K

24.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.25 Rp 22.0K

62.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.87 Rp 32.8K

-14.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.90 Rp 15.8K

57.78%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.69 Rp 29.7K

28.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$14.72 Rp 259.1K

8.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.29 Rp 58.0K

-6.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$9.82 Rp 172.9K

0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.99 Rp 52.6K

-12.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

-12.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.86 Rp 32.7K

-12.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.65 Rp 29.0K

-7.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.54 Rp 27.1K

-19.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.98 Rp 34.9K

-42.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.84 Rp 14.8K

-11.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.41 Rp 7,269

21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.81 Rp 31.9K

136.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$18.84 Rp 331.7K

-4.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.97 Rp 34.6K

-13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.38 Rp 41.9K

21.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.22 Rp 3,860

327.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$7.67 Rp 135.0K

620.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.43 Rp 7,626

186.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.43 Rp 7,526

23.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$3.04 Rp 53.5K

-21.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.68 Rp 11.9K

111.76%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$21.8K Rp 384.4M

-2.94%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$28.5K Rp 502.6M

-4.35%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$75.7 Rp 1.3M

-14.27%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$5.84 Rp 102.9K

128.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$17.30 Rp 304.5K

20.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$39.41 Rp 693.9K

2.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$12.91 Rp 227.4K

-69.40%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.09 Rp 54.4K

117.15%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$383 Rp 6.7M

105.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$4,468 Rp 78.7M

238.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$39.69 Rp 698.7K

41.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$31.07 Rp 547.0K

-19.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$69.4 Rp 1.2M

33.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$68.1 Rp 1.2M

10.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$591 Rp 10.4M

-18.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$361 Rp 6.4M

-20.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,858 Rp 32.7M

-51.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$906 Rp 15.9M

-41.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,463 Rp 25.8M

35.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,200 Rp 21.1M

20.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$279 Rp 4.9M

116.76%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 117% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $239 in Denpasar, Bali – so Denpasar, Bali wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Denpasar, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,405 in Denpasar, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Denpasar, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $383 in Denpasar, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Denpasar, Bali, where all-in costs run around $937, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Denpasar, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Denpasar, Bali costs $937 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Denpasar, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.