😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $577 in Mataram, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $888 in Mataram, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,200 in Mataram, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Mataram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Mataram are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Mataram57% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$1.05Rp 18.3K
86.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$11.02Rp 190.9K
70.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$2.25Rp 39.0K
252.00%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.87Rp 32.4K
2.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.55Rp 9,529
52.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.36Rp 6,243
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.63Rp 45.6K
-15.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$3.78Rp 65.6K
0.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.56Rp 27.0K
5.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$1.68Rp 29.1K
-3.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$0.83Rp 14.4K
42.17%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$1.36Rp 23.6K
47.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$3.32Rp 57.5K
378.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$3.53Rp 61.2K
-14.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$6.29Rp 109.1K
71.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$1.70Rp 29.5K
53.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.21Rp 21.0K
0.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.86Rp 32.3K
-8.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$0.79Rp 13.7K
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.79Rp 13.7K
67.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$1.89Rp 32.8K
-38.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.47Rp 8,180
42.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.31Rp 5,443
80.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$1.79Rp 31.1K
153.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$16.27Rp 282.1K
11.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$2.46Rp 42.6K
-25.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$3.80Rp 65.9K
-15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.63Rp 10.9K
41.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$18.37Rp 318.5K
5.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.48Rp 8,285
181.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.29Rp 5,024
365.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$3.16Rp 54.7K
161.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$0.65Rp 11.2K
95.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$23.4KRp 405.9M
-9.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$28.0KRp 485.3M
-19.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$50.2Rp 870.0K
39.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$4.39Rp 76.2K
213.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$19.07Rp 330.6K
-7.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$26.67Rp 462.3K
55.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$7.66Rp 132.7K
-13.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$2.10Rp 36.3K
175.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$90.8Rp 1.6M
237.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$4,319Rp 74.9M
243.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$36.80Rp 637.8K
47.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$24.84Rp 430.6K
5.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$61.1Rp 1.1M
38.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$40.16Rp 696.1K
72.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$76.9Rp 1.3M
450.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$128Rp 2.2M
85.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$156Rp 2.7M
427.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$265Rp 4.6M
94.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$1,199Rp 20.8M
70.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$783Rp 13.6M
94.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mataram
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$202Rp 3.5M
213.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9
-44.44%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Mataram: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $76.9 in Mataram. 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 214% 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 Mataram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $179 – making Mataram the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Chiang Mai vs Mataram: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Mataram?
Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Mataram, 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 Mataram?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $865 in Mataram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Mataram?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mataram, 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 Mataram?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $90.8 in Mataram. 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 Mataram?
Groceries cost about 36% 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 $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Mataram?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $577 in Mataram, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Mataram?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mataram costs $577 versus $852 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 Mataram?
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 Mataram?
If budget matters most, go with Mataram. 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.
Chiang Mai vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado