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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,246 in Kuta, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,231 in Kuta, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,217 in Kuta, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Kuta, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Kuta, Bali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kuta, Bali 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$3.16 Rp 56.9K

-38.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$28.76 Rp 518.7K

-35.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.46 Rp 80.4K

75.34%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$2.40 Rp 43.3K

-18.75%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$1.20 Rp 21.7K

-29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.65 Rp 11.7K

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$2.56 Rp 46.2K

-16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.35 Rp 60.3K

11.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$1.66 Rp 29.9K

3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$2.36 Rp 42.5K

-30.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

-0.87%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$2.26 Rp 40.8K

-14.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$14.02 Rp 252.9K

15.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.03 Rp 72.7K

-22.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$11.29 Rp 203.6K

-3.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$3.51 Rp 63.3K

-21.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$1.54 Rp 27.9K

-21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$2.64 Rp 47.7K

-38.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

-29.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$1.82 Rp 32.8K

-23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$2.09 Rp 37.7K

-44.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$1.02 Rp 18.5K

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$3.10 Rp 55.9K

51.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$22.84 Rp 411.8K

-18.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$2.68 Rp 48.3K

-32.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.61 Rp 47.0K

23.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.32 Rp 5,774

181.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$9.11 Rp 164.4K

110.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.54 Rp 9,741

161.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.49 Rp 8,895

163.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$6.94 Rp 125.2K

12.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

42.70%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$29.1K Rp 524.4M

-26.82%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$35.4K Rp 639.0M

-37.31%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-13.55%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$3.94 Rp 71.0K

257.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$24.19 Rp 436.2K

-25.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$86.5 Rp 1.6M

-52.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$5.74 Rp 103.5K

21.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$3.49 Rp 63.0K

69.63%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$276 Rp 5.0M

8.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$6,031 Rp 108.8M

147.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$54.8 Rp 988.5K

-0.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$38.07 Rp 686.6K

-29.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$88.8 Rp 1.6M

-4.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

-7.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$812 Rp 14.6M

-47.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$556 Rp 10.0M

-57.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$2,758 Rp 49.7M

-70.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,709 Rp 30.8M

-69.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$2,285 Rp 41.2M

-13.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$1,870 Rp 33.7M

-21.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuta, Bali: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $812 in Kuta, 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 $29.00 in Kuta, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $285 – 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 Kuta, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuta, Bali costs about 44% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,868 in Kuta, 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $276 in Kuta, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Kuta, 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 $866, than in Kuta, Bali at $1,246. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuta, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,246 in Kuta, 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, Kuta, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.