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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,143 in Sanur, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,905 in Sanur, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,667 in Sanur, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Sanur, Bali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Sanur, Bali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sanur, Bali 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$2.65 Rp 46.9K

-21.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$28.65 Rp 508.0K

-31.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.30 Rp 76.2K

31.86%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.19 Rp 38.8K

-17.35%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.45 Rp 25.7K

-46.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.68 Rp 12.1K

-48.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.41 Rp 42.8K

-8.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

10.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

40.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$2.10 Rp 37.3K

-28.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.06 Rp 18.9K

32.08%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.89 Rp 33.6K

19.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$16.10 Rp 285.5K

0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$3.70 Rp 65.6K

-21.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.38 Rp 201.8K

-17.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$3.28 Rp 58.2K

-18.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.47 Rp 26.1K

-25.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.07 Rp 36.6K

-21.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.78 Rp 31.5K

-17.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

-26.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$2.13 Rp 37.7K

-50.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.90 Rp 16.0K

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.50 Rp 8,926

6.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.08 Rp 37.0K

103.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$20.77 Rp 368.4K

-11.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$2.16 Rp 38.4K

-24.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

5.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.24 Rp 4,214

266.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$7.75 Rp 137.4K

593.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.43 Rp 7,627

172.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.45 Rp 7,922

28.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.85 Rp 103.8K

-59.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

90.79%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$23.7K Rp 419.7M

-11.20%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$29.6K Rp 524.7M

-10.68%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

-17.86%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$6.10 Rp 108.1K

111.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$18.08 Rp 320.7K

13.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$41.44 Rp 735.0K

-5.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$13.60 Rp 241.2K

-71.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$3.34 Rp 59.3K

97.01%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$450 Rp 8.0M

74.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$5,199 Rp 92.2M

182.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$41.74 Rp 740.2K

32.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$32.57 Rp 577.6K

-24.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

30.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$71.8 Rp 1.3M

3.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$821 Rp 14.6M

-40.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$512 Rp 9.1M

-43.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$2,696 Rp 47.8M

-66.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$1,265 Rp 22.4M

-58.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,081 Rp 36.9M

-5.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,736 Rp 30.8M

-16.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.78

-59.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sanur, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $821 in Sanur, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Sanur, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $268 – 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 Sanur, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sanur, Bali costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,715 in Sanur, 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $450 in Sanur, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Sanur, 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 $932, than in Sanur, Bali at $1,143. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sanur, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,143 in Sanur, 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, Sanur, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.