Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Metro, Lampung

For one person, living is cheaper in Metro, Lampung: $734 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Metro, Lampung, Indonesia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Metro, Lampung
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$734
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Metro, Lampung

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Metro, Lampung actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $734 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Metro, Lampung $734

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,159 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Metro, Lampung $1,159

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,583 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Metro, Lampung $1,583

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Metro, Lampung, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Metro, Lampung are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Metro, Lampung 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$2.79 Rp 50.6K
-19.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$16.35 Rp 296.6K
16.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$3.26 Rp 59.1K
70.25%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.93 Rp 35.0K
-13.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.45 Rp 8,109
42.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.26 Rp 4,725
19.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$2.43 Rp 44.0K
-2.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$3.92 Rp 71.2K
-6.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.34 Rp 24.3K
45.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$1.06 Rp 19.3K
35.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$0.84 Rp 15.3K
58.33%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
23.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$9.24 Rp 167.6K
78.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$3.04 Rp 55.1K
-8.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$7.62 Rp 138.3K
22.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.74 Rp 49.7K
-14.23%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$1.36 Rp 24.6K
-28.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.49 Rp 45.2K
-35.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
11.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.37 Rp 24.9K
-6.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$2.07 Rp 37.5K
-46.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.90 Rp 16.3K
-21.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.46 Rp 8,405
6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.70 Rp 48.9K
53.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$21.20 Rp 384.6K
-17.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.05 Rp 37.2K
-21.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.00 Rp 54.5K
-7.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.24 Rp 4,340
262.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$11.75 Rp 213.2K
360.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$0.49 Rp 8,881
136.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.32 Rp 5,714
65.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$3.39 Rp 61.5K
-28.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$0.80 Rp 14.6K
81.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$27.6K Rp 501.1M
-23.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$32.5K Rp 590.1M
-17.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$107 Rp 1.9M
-41.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$6.13 Rp 111.2K
98.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$18.69 Rp 338.9K
7.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$15.56 Rp 282.2K
139.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$7.91 Rp 143.4K
-52.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$3.09 Rp 56.1K
110.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$94.2 Rp 1.7M
681.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$8,017 Rp 145.4M
84.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$57.7 Rp 1.0M
-7.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$28.04 Rp 508.5K
-12.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$72.3 Rp 1.3M
26.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$106 Rp 1.9M
-31.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$201 Rp 3.7M
139.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$154 Rp 2.8M
100.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$554 Rp 10.0M
81.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$393 Rp 7.1M
61.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$1,135 Rp 20.6M
108.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$879 Rp 15.9M
80.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.46
-41.12%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Metro, Lampung: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Metro, Lampung
$154 50.1% $155
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Metro, Lampung
$215 8.2% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Metro, Lampung
$119 9.2% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Metro, Lampung
$132 39.5% $37
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Metro, Lampung
$78 0.6% $0.5
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Metro, Lampung
$15 75.9% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Metro, Lampung
$22 56.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $201 in Metro, Lampung. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $16 in Metro, Lampung. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $215 – making Metro, Lampung the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇩 Metro, Lampung
🕒 Local time
13:17 1:17 PM
13:17 1:17 PM
Same time as Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
149,361
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,252 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Metro, Lampung 2,750 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Metro, Lampung

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Metro, Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Metro, Lampung?
Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Metro, Lampung, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 and in Metro, Lampung?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,101 in Metro, Lampung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Metro, Lampung?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Metro, Lampung, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $201 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Metro, Lampung?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $94 in Metro, Lampung. 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 in Metro, Lampung?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Metro, Lampung – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Metro, Lampung is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 22% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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