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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 39.6% more expensive than Semarang without rent, and 31.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 33.3% more expensive than Semarang without rent, and 25.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$1.85 Rp 31.3K
9.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$12.23 Rp 206.5K
52.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$3.69 Rp 62.3K
102.71%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$1.44 Rp 24.4K
38.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.48 Rp 8,034
77.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.27 Rp 4,557
29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$1.97 Rp 33.3K
12.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$2.88 Rp 48.7K
30.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.02 Rp 17.3K
68.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$1.04 Rp 17.6K
56.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$0.86 Rp 14.4K
34.88%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$1.60 Rp 27.1K
23.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$6.00 Rp 101.4K
165.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$2.81 Rp 47.5K
12.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$8.59 Rp 145.1K
26.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$2.61 Rp 44.0K
1.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$1.50 Rp 25.4K
-18.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$1.88 Rp 31.8K
-9.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$1.51 Rp 25.5K
5.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$1.26 Rp 21.2K
4.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$1.87 Rp 31.6K
-37.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.91 Rp 15.3K
-25.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.44 Rp 7,419
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.28 Rp 38.5K
97.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$14.60 Rp 246.5K
30.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$2.54 Rp 42.8K
-30.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$2.78 Rp 47.0K
14.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.24 Rp 4,014
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$13.01 Rp 219.7K
45.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$0.88 Rp 14.9K
54.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$0.29 Rp 4,873
365.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$2.97 Rp 50.2K
170.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$0.81 Rp 13.7K
53.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$24.8K Rp 418.6M
-14.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$31.0K Rp 524.3M
-29.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$94.0 Rp 1.6M
-24.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$2.72 Rp 45.9K
418.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$23.14 Rp 390.7K
-24.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$23.14 Rp 390.7K
81.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$5.15 Rp 87.0K
33.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$3.06 Rp 51.7K
94.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$45.66 Rp 771.0K
573.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$2,369 Rp 40.0M
524.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$36.73 Rp 620.2K
51.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$32.77 Rp 553.3K
-18.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$65.5 Rp 1.1M
27.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$43.58 Rp 735.8K
60.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$253 Rp 4.3M
68.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$151 Rp 2.5M
57.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$535 Rp 9.0M
49.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$423 Rp 7.1M
18.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$1,226 Rp 20.7M
68.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$597 Rp 10.1M
156.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Semarang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$201 Rp 3.4M
225.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
7.83
-36.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Semarang: February 28, 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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