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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 36.5% more expensive than Medan without rent, and 33% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 9.6% more expensive than Medan without rent, and 35.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$1.86 Rp 31.4K
9.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$10.71 Rp 180.9K
73.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$3.17 Rp 53.6K
135.96%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$1.80 Rp 30.4K
11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.40 Rp 6,677
112.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.27 Rp 4,597
29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$1.51 Rp 25.4K
46.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$5.37 Rp 90.7K
-29.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.19 Rp 20.1K
44.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$1.17 Rp 19.8K
39.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$0.87 Rp 14.7K
33.33%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$1.50 Rp 25.4K
32.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$9.36 Rp 158.1K
70.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$3.91 Rp 66.1K
-18.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$6.83 Rp 115.3K
59.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$2.28 Rp 38.6K
16.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$1.01 Rp 17.0K
20.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$1.46 Rp 24.6K
16.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$0.93 Rp 15.7K
70.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$0.73 Rp 12.4K
80.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$1.26 Rp 21.2K
-7.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.43 Rp 7,258
58.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.47 Rp 7,905
19.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.41 Rp 40.7K
87.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$16.79 Rp 283.5K
13.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.34 Rp 22.5K
32.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$3.22 Rp 54.3K
-1.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.30 Rp 4,986
220.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$10.11 Rp 170.7K
86.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$0.53 Rp 8,924
156.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$0.20 Rp 3,372
575.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$6.01 Rp 101.5K
33.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$0.87 Rp 14.7K
42.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$27.7K Rp 467.8M
-23.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$34.4K Rp 580.5M
-36.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$82.2 Rp 1.4M
-13.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$3.53 Rp 59.6K
299.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$33.29 Rp 562.2K
-47.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$23.70 Rp 400.2K
77.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$7.15 Rp 120.7K
-3.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$3.44 Rp 58.1K
72.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$126 Rp 2.1M
143.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$10.7K Rp 180.1M
38.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$66.7 Rp 1.1M
-16.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$42.45 Rp 716.8K
-36.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$118 Rp 2.0M
-29.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$64.3 Rp 1.1M
9.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$195 Rp 3.3M
119.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$99.1 Rp 1.7M
139.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$529 Rp 8.9M
51.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$229 Rp 3.9M
119.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$1,233 Rp 20.8M
67.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$599 Rp 10.1M
156.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$233 Rp 3.9M
181.09%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Medan: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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