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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 32% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

-38.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$38.59 Rp 680.4K

-49.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

2.36%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

-31.44%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

-57.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-58.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

-14.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

-15.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

26.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

-32.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

18.58%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

8.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

-6.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

-23.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

-20.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

-29.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

-32.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

-31.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

-26.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

-33.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-54.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

-30.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.55 Rp 9,781

-7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

86.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$23.81 Rp 419.8K

-24.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

-26.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

1.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.27 Rp 4,803

244.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

521.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.48 Rp 8,490

156.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.45 Rp 7,865

28.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

-57.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

85.53%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

-12.41%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$32.1K Rp 566.4M

-14.91%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-23.79%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

98.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

6.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$56.0 Rp 987.0K

-30.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$18.62 Rp 328.3K

-78.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

57.48%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$487 Rp 8.6M

59.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$5,856 Rp 103.3M

149.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$45.56 Rp 803.3K

19.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$36.38 Rp 641.5K

-30.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

15.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-8.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-56.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$701 Rp 12.4M

-58.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

-74.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

-70.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

-30.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

-35.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$170 Rp 3.0M

254.64%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 255% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $293 – 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 47% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,095 in Ubud, 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Ubud, 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 $947, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,396 in Ubud, 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, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.