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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $610 in Gresik, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $926 in Gresik, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,241 in Gresik, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Gresik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gresik are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gresik 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.16 Rp 20.4K

81.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$10.13 Rp 178.3K

95.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.08 Rp 54.2K

87.99%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

18.06%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.40 Rp 7,095

95.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.23 Rp 4,063

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.28 Rp 40.1K

2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.21 Rp 38.9K

67.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.29 Rp 22.6K

57.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.31 Rp 23.0K

22.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.86 Rp 15.1K

65.12%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.08 Rp 19.0K

101.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$7.66 Rp 134.8K

107.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.11 Rp 54.8K

-1.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.62 Rp 134.1K

29.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.05 Rp 36.1K

28.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.33 Rp 23.4K

-17.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.93 Rp 34.0K

-15.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.50 Rp 26.4K

2.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.37 Rp 24.1K

-9.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.95 Rp 34.4K

-42.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.41 Rp 7,138

21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.89 Rp 33.3K

126.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$11.26 Rp 198.2K

59.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.78 Rp 31.3K

-4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.71 Rp 47.7K

7.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.27 Rp 4,717

248.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$8.71 Rp 153.3K

534.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.47 Rp 8,215

161.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.47 Rp 8,267

12.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$2.74 Rp 48.2K

-12.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

77.78%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$36.0K Rp 633.0M

-41.06%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$26.5K Rp 467.0M

2.95%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$88.3 Rp 1.6M

-26.47%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$4.70 Rp 82.8K

184.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$19.39 Rp 341.4K

7.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$28.32 Rp 498.6K

42.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$8.41 Rp 148.0K

-53.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.76 Rp 48.5K

143.12%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$52.9 Rp 931.4K

1387.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$9,754 Rp 171.7M

55.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$42.91 Rp 755.5K

31.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$22.48 Rp 395.8K

10.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

25.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$76.1 Rp 1.3M

-1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$170 Rp 3.0M

183.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$117 Rp 2.1M

146.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$307 Rp 5.4M

196.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$250 Rp 4.4M

112.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,201 Rp 21.1M

64.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$677 Rp 11.9M

114.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$115 Rp 2.0M

428.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.5

-25.73%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Gresik: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $170 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 428% 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 $10.00 in Gresik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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

Chiang Mai costs about 56% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $915 in Gresik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.9 in Gresik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gresik, where all-in costs run around $610, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Gresik 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. Gresik costs $610 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 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.