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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 14% more expensive than Surabaya without rent, and 27% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 19.4% more expensive than Surabaya without rent, and 18% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.5
$1.56 Rp 26.7K
28.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿584
$12.25 Rp 210.2K
48.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿245
$3.04 Rp 52.2K
151.64%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.5
$1.79 Rp 30.7K
7.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.97
$0.65 Rp 11.1K
29.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.42
$0.26 Rp 4,418
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.2
$2.44 Rp 41.8K
-10.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$4.10 Rp 70.3K
-7.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.5
$1.43 Rp 24.6K
14.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿52.0
$1.45 Rp 24.9K
11.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.98
$0.93 Rp 16.0K
23.66%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.2
$1.52 Rp 26.0K
27.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿511
$9.00 Rp 154.3K
77.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.5
$3.21 Rp 55.1K
-3.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿355
$8.22 Rp 140.9K
34.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.8
$2.41 Rp 41.3K
12.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.80
$1.48 Rp 25.4K
-20.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.7
$2.18 Rp 37.4K
-21.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.5
$1.50 Rp 25.7K
7.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.66
$1.36 Rp 23.4K
2.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.81
$1.74 Rp 29.8K
-33.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.83
$1.14 Rp 19.5K
-37.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.65
$0.43 Rp 7,357
27.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$2.56 Rp 43.9K
78.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿605
$26.52 Rp 454.9K
-28.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.4
$1.83 Rp 31.4K
-0.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$3.17 Rp 54.4K
1.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.24
$0.48 Rp 8,162
83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿606
$9.44 Rp 161.9K
100.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.30
$0.47 Rp 8,071
200.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.71
$0.29 Rp 4,960
348.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿263
$2.79 Rp 47.9K
193.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.29
$0.79 Rp 13.6K
55.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿678.9K
$21.2K Rp 363.5M
-0.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿715.3K
$35.6K Rp 611.2M
-37.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,240
$83.2 Rp 1.4M
-16.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿451
$4.10 Rp 70.3K
243.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿567
$19.18 Rp 329.1K
-7.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,328
$22.08 Rp 378.8K
87.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿215
$4.54 Rp 77.9K
47.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$2.94 Rp 50.4K
95.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,593
$190 Rp 3.3M
57.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿481.2K
$9,402 Rp 161.3M
59.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,758
$62.7 Rp 1.1M
-12.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿845
$38.47 Rp 659.9K
-31.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,714
$77.7 Rp 1.3M
8.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,236
$83.8 Rp 1.4M
-16.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$247 Rp 4.2M
73.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,718
$135 Rp 2.3M
77.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿26.0K
$772 Rp 13.2M
5.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.0K
$392 Rp 6.7M
27.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.8K
$2,259 Rp 38.7M
-10.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.9K
$1,092 Rp 18.7M
39.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.5K
$299 Rp 5.1M
113.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.33
-39.98%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 13, 2026

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

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