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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $942 in Denpasar, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Denpasar, Bali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

-17.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$21.21 Rp 380.5K

-13.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.39 Rp 60.9K

120.65%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

8.02%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

-1.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.49 Rp 8,810

-26.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.02 Rp 36.2K

5.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.54 Rp 45.6K

41.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

16.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.07 Rp 37.1K

-24.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

20.20%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

-1.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$11.90 Rp 213.4K

36.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.50 Rp 62.8K

-14.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.90 Rp 177.6K

10.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.12 Rp 56.0K

-13.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

-9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

-25.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

-10.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

-35.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

-18.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.65 Rp 47.5K

75.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$18.39 Rp 330.0K

-4.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

-20.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

47.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.26 Rp 4,695

238.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$7.41 Rp 133.0K

161.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.44 Rp 7,857

209.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.38 Rp 6,851

252.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.43 Rp 97.4K

51.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

69.44%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$23.1K Rp 413.5M

-7.37%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$28.6K Rp 512.5M

-21.13%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

-3.03%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

277.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$21.15 Rp 379.4K

-17.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

-38.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$4.71 Rp 84.4K

46.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.81 Rp 50.5K

110.68%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$233 Rp 4.2M

32.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$5,136 Rp 92.1M

189.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$46.35 Rp 831.4K

20.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$32.50 Rp 583.0K

-19.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

9.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

7.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$528 Rp 9.5M

-18.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$356 Rp 6.4M

-32.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,791 Rp 32.1M

-54.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

-53.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

35.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

26.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$278 Rp 5.0M

108.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-62.35%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $528 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 109% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Denpasar, Bali costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,413 in Denpasar, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $233 in Denpasar, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Denpasar, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $942 in Denpasar, Bali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Denpasar, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.