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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 11.7% more expensive than Medan without rent, and 33.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 12.3% more expensive than Medan without rent, and 33.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$1.85 Rp 30.1K
9.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$10.83 Rp 175.8K
73.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$3.18 Rp 51.6K
141.19%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.78 Rp 28.9K
11.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.42 Rp 6,841
95.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.27 Rp 4,406
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.56 Rp 25.4K
35.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$5.33 Rp 86.5K
-30.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.23 Rp 20K
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.12 Rp 18.1K
40.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.81 Rp 13.2K
46.91%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.5 Rp 24.3K
32.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.32 Rp 151.2K
71.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.74 Rp 60.7K
-16.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$7.07 Rp 114.7K
57.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.29 Rp 37.2K
20.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.04 Rp 16.8K
17.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.5 Rp 24.4K
14.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.87 Rp 14.1K
78.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.75 Rp 12.2K
78.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.31 Rp 21.2K
-7.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.42 Rp 6,810
71.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.5 Rp 8,175
6.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.43 Rp 39.5K
94.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$6.77 Rp 109.8K
171.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.34 Rp 21.7K
33.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$3.23 Rp 52.4K
-0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.3 Rp 4,819
213.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$9.99 Rp 162.2K
89.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.54 Rp 8,703
162.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.22 Rp 3,573
513.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$6 Rp 97.3K
30.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.85 Rp 13.8K
47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$27.5K Rp 445.8M
-22.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$34.4K Rp 559.1M
-36.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$82.3 Rp 1.3M
-14.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$3.63 Rp 58.9K
277.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$33.38 Rp 541.8K
-47.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$23.25 Rp 377.4K
79.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$6.99 Rp 113.4K
-1.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.63 Rp 58.9K
59.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$125 Rp 2M
146.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$10.9K Rp 176.4M
35.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$66.5 Rp 1.1M
-16.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$43.8 Rp 711K
-39.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$119 Rp 1.9M
-28.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$123 Rp 2M
-41.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$194 Rp 3.1M
123.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$97 Rp 1.6M
142.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$541 Rp 8.8M
51.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$235 Rp 3.8M
112.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,311 Rp 21.3M
66.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$599 Rp 9.7M
157.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$221 Rp 3.6M
218.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
9.25
-45.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medan: October 29, 2025

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