Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jimbaran, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jimbaran, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,371 in Jimbaran, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,489 in Jimbaran, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,608 in Jimbaran, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 38% cheaper than Jimbaran, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Jimbaran, Bali is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.4

$3.42 Rp 61.2K

-40.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿631

$30.84 Rp 552.2K

-39.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿264

$4.81 Rp 86.2K

62.99%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿65.0

$2.60 Rp 46.5K

-25.77%

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

$0.83 ฿28.01

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

-34.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.81

$0.71 Rp 12.7K

-50.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.8

$2.86 Rp 51.2K

-22.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$3.77 Rp 67.5K

0.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.72 Rp 30.8K

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.3

$2.43 Rp 43.4K

-36.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.82

$1.10 Rp 19.6K

7.27%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.9

$2.23 Rp 39.9K

-9.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿545

$13.66 Rp 244.5K

18.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$3.95 Rp 70.8K

-23.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿365

$11.24 Rp 201.2K

-3.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.3

$3.63 Rp 64.9K

-26.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.16

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-18.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.8

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

-36.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-31.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.13

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

-26.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.88

$2.10 Rp 37.7K

-42.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.65

$0.95 Rp 17.0K

-26.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.71

$0.69 Rp 12.4K

-23.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$3.10 Rp 55.5K

51.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿597

$22.63 Rp 405.2K

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.2

$2.76 Rp 49.4K

-32.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$2.72 Rp 48.8K

18.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.03

$0.30 Rp 5,436

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

$8.60 Rp 153.9K

118.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.43

$0.47 Rp 8,397

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.54

$0.48 Rp 8,575

168.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿263

$6.51 Rp 116.6K

19.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.61

$0.91 Rp 16.4K

41.76%

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

$21.8K ฿733.8K

$27.2K Rp 487.0M

-19.98%

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

$21.7K ฿731.2K

$33.6K Rp 602.0M

-35.49%

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

$70.0 ฿2,359

$78.5 Rp 1.4M

-10.90%

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

$14.19 ฿478

$4.11 Rp 73.5K

245.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿587

$23.76 Rp 425.5K

-26.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,404

$90.3 Rp 1.6M

-53.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

$5.85 Rp 104.8K

17.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$3.83 Rp 68.6K

50.91%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$286 Rp 5.1M

4.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿489.5K

$6,217 Rp 111.3M

133.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,866

$52.0 Rp 930.2K

6.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿887

$36.80 Rp 658.8K

-28.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,860

$85.2 Rp 1.5M

-0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,376

$73.9 Rp 1.3M

-4.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$962 Rp 17.2M

-55.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,924

$638 Rp 11.4M

-63.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$3,241 Rp 58.0M

-75.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$1,975 Rp 35.4M

-73.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.9K

$2,691 Rp 48.2M

-28.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.9K

$2,180 Rp 39.0M

-33.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

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 20, 2026

Last update for Jimbaran, Bali: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $962 in Jimbaran, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Jimbaran, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $284 – 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 Jimbaran, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jimbaran, Bali costs about 62% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,056 in Jimbaran, 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 $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $286 in Jimbaran, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Jimbaran, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Jimbaran, Bali at $1,371. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jimbaran, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,371 in Jimbaran, 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, Jimbaran, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.