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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 52.1% more expensive than Surakarta without rent, and 31.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 33.1% more expensive than Surakarta without rent, and 34.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$1.58 Rp 26.7K
28.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$12.42 Rp 210.4K
49.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$3.10 Rp 52.5K
141.29%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.65 Rp 27.9K
21.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.55 Rp 9,403
54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.25 Rp 4,215
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$1.81 Rp 30.7K
22.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$2.87 Rp 48.7K
31.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.16 Rp 19.7K
48.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.89 Rp 15.1K
83.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$0.76 Rp 12.8K
52.63%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$1.26 Rp 21.3K
57.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$8.98 Rp 152.2K
77.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$2.97 Rp 50.4K
6.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$7.18 Rp 121.6K
51.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.38 Rp 40.3K
11.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.56 Rp 26.4K
-21.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$2.20 Rp 37.4K
-22.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.35 Rp 22.9K
17.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.32 Rp 22.4K
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.70 Rp 28.8K
-31.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.64 Rp 10.8K
6.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.46 Rp 7,804
21.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$2.17 Rp 36.7K
107.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$8.81 Rp 149.3K
116.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.76 Rp 29.8K
0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$3.31 Rp 56.1K
-3.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.42 Rp 7,046
128.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
$9.85 Rp 166.9K
91.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$0.44 Rp 7,471
209.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.31 Rp 5,268
335.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$2.80 Rp 47.5K
186.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$0.83 Rp 14.1K
49.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$20.8K Rp 351.7M
1.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$34.5K Rp 584.9M
-36.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$83.2 Rp 1.4M
-14.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$2.26 Rp 38.3K
523.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$19.63 Rp 332.6K
-11.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$20.17 Rp 341.7K
108.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
$6.32 Rp 107.2K
8.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$2.10 Rp 35.5K
182.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$37.43 Rp 634.1K
721.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$2,040 Rp 34.6M
625.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$62.7 Rp 1.1M
-11.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$39.65 Rp 671.8K
-32.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$77.2 Rp 1.3M
7.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$71.0 Rp 1.2M
-1.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$261 Rp 4.4M
63.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$157 Rp 2.7M
51.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$590 Rp 10.0M
35.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$336 Rp 5.7M
49.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Surakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$181 Rp 3.1M
260.39%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: 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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