😐A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $630 in Gresik, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $972 in Gresik, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,314 in Gresik, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 34% more than Gresik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Gresik are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai37% lower, Gresik53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95฿62.8
$1.22Rp 20.9K
59.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43฿594
$11.20Rp 192.5K
64.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50฿241
$3.11Rp 53.4K
141.16%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿62.3
$1.50Rp 25.8K
28.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.08
$0.36Rp 6,106
116.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.42
$0.17Rp 2,965
88.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15฿69.2
$1.55Rp 26.7K
38.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿120
$2.39Rp 41.1K
55.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿55.2
$1.16Rp 19.9K
47.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.3
$1.09Rp 18.7K
43.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.06
$0.79Rp 13.6K
49.37%
Eggs
$1.98฿63.9
$1.38Rp 23.7K
43.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04฿517
$8.71Rp 149.6K
84.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿102
$3.09Rp 53.1K
2.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿353
$6.73Rp 115.6K
62.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿84.7
$2.31Rp 39.7K
13.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿37.61
$1.56Rp 26.7K
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.0
$2.09Rp 35.9K
-21.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54฿49.51
$1.44Rp 24.7K
6.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿44.34
$1.38Rp 23.8K
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿37.54
$1.78Rp 30.7K
-34.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.25
$1.13Rp 19.4K
-41.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.55
$0.38Rp 6,537
34.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52฿146
$2.15Rp 36.9K
110.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿590
$11.88Rp 204.1K
54.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿57.9
$1.26Rp 21.6K
42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿102
$2.28Rp 39.3K
39.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿28.97
$0.32Rp 5,543
181.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00฿612
$9.80Rp 168.4K
93.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.50
$0.48Rp 8,290
193.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31฿42.15
$0.29Rp 4,983
351.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09฿261
$2.81Rp 48.3K
187.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.08
$0.59Rp 10.1K
116.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿686.1K
$20.7KRp 355.2M
3.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿699.3K
$35.4KRp 608.9M
-38.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2฿2,230
$84.6Rp 1.5M
-18.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97฿450
$4.25Rp 73.1K
228.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95฿578
$19.63Rp 337.4K
-8.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31฿1,363
$22.21Rp 381.7K
90.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66฿214
$6.02Rp 103.4K
10.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿191
$2.48Rp 42.6K
138.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,640
$19.75Rp 339.5K
1414.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿478.4K
$9,248Rp 158.9M
60.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,810
$42.43Rp 729.2K
32.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94฿868
$24.42Rp 419.7K
10.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9฿2,735
$72.8Rp 1.3M
16.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8฿2,314
$66.4Rp 1.1M
8.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435฿14.0K
$260Rp 4.5M
67.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240฿7,727
$155Rp 2.7M
54.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798฿25.7K
$584Rp 10.0M
36.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498฿16.1K
$333Rp 5.7M
49.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995฿64.3K
$1,309Rp 22.5M
52.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532฿49.4K
$761Rp 13.1M
101.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628฿20.2K
$186Rp 3.2M
238.00%
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Gresik: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $260 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 238% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $11 in Gresik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $181 – 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 34% 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 vs Gresik?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $944 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 Gresik?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $19.75 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 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 Gresik?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $630 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 $630 versus $845 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 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