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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Chiang Mai vs $445 in Karawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,381 per month in Chiang Mai vs $803 in Karawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,161 in Karawang, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Karawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Karawang are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Karawang 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿70.6

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

47.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.22 ฿645

$11.15 Rp 199.5K

72.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

60.41%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

17.36%

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

$0.65 ฿21.71

$0.40 Rp 7,234

62.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.19 Rp 3,321

63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.8

$3.11 Rp 55.7K

-25.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 ฿131

$3.02 Rp 54.0K

29.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$1.13 Rp 20.1K

83.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ฿51.4

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

48.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 ฿41.93

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

43.68%

Eggs

$2.19 ฿73.6

$1.48 Rp 26.5K

47.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿535

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

471.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.7

$2.84 Rp 50.8K

-2.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 ฿327

$7.81 Rp 139.8K

24.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 ฿89.1

$1.76 Rp 31.4K

51.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ฿35.32

$1.08 Rp 19.3K

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

30.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ฿49.49

$0.48 Rp 8,633

208.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.73

$0.89 Rp 16.0K

35.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.95

$1.51 Rp 27.1K

-27.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.50

$0.68 Rp 12.2K

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.66

$0.42 Rp 7,569

19.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

59.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.50 ฿587

$22.55 Rp 403.6K

-22.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿55.7

$1.87 Rp 33.5K

-11.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.2

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

-15.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.88

$0.59 Rp 10.6K

45.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.7 ฿1,803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.87

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

43.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.80

$0.52 Rp 9,294

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 ฿78.6

$1.13 Rp 20.3K

107.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.57

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

81.25%

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

$21.1K ฿706.4K

$21.0K Rp 374.9M

0.48%

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

$26.3K ฿882.3K

$28.5K Rp 510.6M

-7.84%

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

$63.6 ฿2,133

$33.85 Rp 605.7K

87.86%

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

$12.56 ฿422

$4.24 Rp 75.8K

196.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.04 ฿672

$12.59 Rp 225.2K

59.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 ฿1,299

$20.24 Rp 362.2K

91.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.80 ฿127

$8.43 Rp 150.8K

-54.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ฿217

$2.82 Rp 50.4K

129.43%

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

$777 ฿26.1K

$43.23 Rp 773.5K

1697.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿489.1K

$8,186 Rp 146.5M

78.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 ฿1,853

$16.40 Rp 293.5K

236.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.77 ฿831

$27.34 Rp 489.2K

-9.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 ฿3,029

$48.10 Rp 860.6K

87.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,467

$48.99 Rp 876.6K

50.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ฿15.6K

$137 Rp 2.5M

240.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 ฿9,601

$69.2 Rp 1.2M

313.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 ฿29.0K

$552 Rp 9.9M

56.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 ฿17.6K

$367 Rp 6.6M

43.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,978 ฿66.4K

$1,171 Rp 20.9M

68.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,461 ฿49.0K

$606 Rp 10.9M

140.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 ฿19.5K

$401 Rp 7.2M

45.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.38

-51.05%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026

Last update for Karawang: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Chiang Mai versus $137 in Karawang. 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 45% 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 Karawang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $174 – making Karawang 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 Karawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Karawang, 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $668 in Karawang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karawang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $11.00 in Karawang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karawang, where all-in costs run around $445, than in Chiang Mai at $926. In Karawang 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. Karawang costs $445 versus $926 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 Karawang. 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.