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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,700 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,132 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,565 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 49% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.14 Rp 74.7K

-53.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$38.93 Rp 702.1K

-52.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.99 Rp 107.9K

30.55%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.39 Rp 61.2K

-42.48%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.61 Rp 29.0K

-47.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.88 Rp 15.9K

-60.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.53 Rp 63.7K

-39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.59 Rp 82.7K

-18.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.83 Rp 33.0K

-6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.66 Rp 48.0K

-38.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.21 Rp 21.7K

-5.79%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.53 Rp 45.6K

-23.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$15.46 Rp 278.8K

4.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.56 Rp 82.2K

-31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.51 Rp 225.6K

-12.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.90 Rp 70.3K

-29.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.63 Rp 29.3K

-25.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.91 Rp 52.5K

-44.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

-33.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.06 Rp 37.2K

-32.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.37 Rp 42.8K

-50.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.08 Rp 19.5K

-38.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.74 Rp 13.4K

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.28 Rp 59.1K

42.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$25.10 Rp 452.7K

-25.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$3.00 Rp 54.1K

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

11.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.34 Rp 6,117

164.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.40 Rp 187.6K

84.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.60 Rp 10.9K

135.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.54 Rp 9,678

138.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.56 Rp 136.3K

3.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.03 Rp 18.6K

23.30%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.2K Rp 580.2M

-33.87%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$39.4K Rp 710.6M

-43.63%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$87.6 Rp 1.6M

-21.15%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.34 Rp 78.3K

224.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$26.50 Rp 477.8K

-32.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$112 Rp 2.0M

-63.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.62 Rp 137.4K

-8.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.77 Rp 86.0K

24.11%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$347 Rp 6.3M

-13.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$7,491 Rp 135.1M

99.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$60.3 Rp 1.1M

-9.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$42.64 Rp 768.9K

-37.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$97.5 Rp 1.8M

-12.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$85.2 Rp 1.5M

-17.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,335 Rp 24.1M

-67.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$921 Rp 16.6M

-74.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$4,567 Rp 82.4M

-82.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$2,786 Rp 50.2M

-81.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,712 Rp 66.9M

-46.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$3,139 Rp 56.6M

-53.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-62.35%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,335 in Uluwatu, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $315 – 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Uluwatu, Bali costs about 96% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,550 in Uluwatu, 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $347 in Uluwatu, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Uluwatu, 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 $866, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,700. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,700 in Uluwatu, 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, Uluwatu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.