Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Gresik Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Gresik

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Mai 37% lower, Gresik 53% lower.

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

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