😐A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $619 in Gresik, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $964 in Gresik, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,308 in Gresik, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Gresik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Gresik are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai37% lower, Gresik54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03฿68.4
$1.22Rp 21.9K
66.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿630
$11.01Rp 197.5K
69.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84฿264
$3.11Rp 55.7K
152.09%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿64.9
$1.50Rp 27.0K
28.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83฿28.00
$0.39Rp 6,933
112.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.80
$0.19Rp 3,492
84.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22฿74.8
$1.56Rp 28.0K
42.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿128
$2.40Rp 43.0K
57.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.4
$1.16Rp 20.8K
42.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55฿52.3
$1.08Rp 19.4K
43.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿39.79
$0.79Rp 14.2K
49.37%
Eggs
$2.01฿67.9
$1.30Rp 23.3K
54.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.16฿544
$8.82Rp 158.1K
83.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿102
$3.08Rp 55.3K
-1.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿365
$6.65Rp 119.4K
63.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿90.3
$2.29Rp 41.0K
17.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿41.14
$1.48Rp 26.5K
-17.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿54.8
$2.21Rp 39.7K
-26.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.5
$1.43Rp 25.6K
6.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34฿45.10
$1.32Rp 23.6K
1.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿40.86
$1.77Rp 31.8K
-31.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿23.63
$1.14Rp 20.4K
-38.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.70
$0.42Rp 7,511
26.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿158
$2.05Rp 36.8K
128.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.71฿597
$11.11Rp 199.3K
59.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85฿62.2
$1.20Rp 21.6K
54.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21฿108
$2.36Rp 42.3K
36.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿30.01
$0.32Rp 5,776
178.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.76฿632
$9.90Rp 177.5K
89.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.40
$0.44Rp 7,975
220.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿43.52
$0.31Rp 5,579
316.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.79฿262
$2.77Rp 49.8K
181.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿43.59
$0.58Rp 10.4K
122.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿733.4K
$21.2KRp 379.9M
2.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿730.7K
$34.8KRp 623.4M
-37.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.0฿2,358
$83.4Rp 1.5M
-16.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.19฿478
$4.18Rp 75.0K
239.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.42฿587
$19.84Rp 355.8K
-12.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.64฿1,403
$22.52Rp 403.9K
84.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89฿232
$6.16Rp 110.5K
11.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿195
$2.51Rp 45.0K
130.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300฿10.1K
$20.02Rp 359.1K
1397.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5K฿489.2K
$9,284Rp 166.5M
56.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4฿1,865
$43.14Rp 773.7K
28.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.31฿886
$24.63Rp 441.7K
6.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,858
$72.5Rp 1.3M
17.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,375
$67.8Rp 1.2M
4.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425฿14.3K
$255Rp 4.6M
66.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235฿7,919
$156Rp 2.8M
50.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$802฿27.0K
$584Rp 10.5M
37.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$516฿17.4K
$331Rp 5.9M
55.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,926฿64.9K
$1,317Rp 23.6M
46.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿48.9K
$694Rp 12.4M
109.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$586฿19.8K
$175Rp 3.1M
235.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.33
-39.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Last update for Gresik: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $255 in Gresik. 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 236% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Gresik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $179 – making Gresik 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 Gresik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Gresik?
Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Gresik, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Gresik?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $928 in Gresik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Gresik?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gresik, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Gresik?
Kindergarten costs $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $20.02 in Gresik. 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 Gresik?
Groceries cost about 35% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Gresik?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $847 in Chiang Mai and $619 in Gresik, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Gresik?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gresik costs $619 versus $847 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Gresik?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Gresik?
If budget matters most, go with Gresik. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared