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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,685 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,928 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,171 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 45% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$4.11 Rp 72.8K

-49.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$43.57 Rp 771.5K

-54.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.64 Rp 117.6K

-14.61%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.38 Rp 59.8K

-46.45%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$2.19 Rp 38.8K

-64.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

-65.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$3.56 Rp 63.1K

-37.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$5.43 Rp 96.1K

-30.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.66 Rp 29.4K

23.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.46 Rp 43.6K

-38.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.21 Rp 21.5K

15.70%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

-1.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$18.21 Rp 322.4K

-11.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.21 Rp 74.5K

-31.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$13.07 Rp 231.4K

-27.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.91 Rp 69.3K

-31.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

-33.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.47 Rp 43.8K

-34.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

-29.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-32.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$2.59 Rp 45.8K

-59.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

-32.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.56 Rp 9,996

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.41 Rp 42.6K

75.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$24.21 Rp 428.6K

-24.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.50 Rp 44.2K

-34.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.11 Rp 55.0K

-6.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.31 Rp 5,577

183.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$10.28 Rp 181.9K

423.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.57 Rp 10.1K

105.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.58 Rp 10.2K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.69 Rp 47.5K

-11.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

43.56%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$30.3K Rp 536.2M

-30.61%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$39.3K Rp 696.4M

-32.81%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$89.9 Rp 1.6M

-29.23%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$7.40 Rp 131.0K

74.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$20.52 Rp 363.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$65.8 Rp 1.2M

-40.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$21.34 Rp 377.8K

-81.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.21 Rp 92.3K

26.30%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$544 Rp 9.6M

43.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,707 Rp 118.8M

118.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$51.1 Rp 904.7K

7.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$39.15 Rp 693.2K

-36.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$89.5 Rp 1.6M

5.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$87.8 Rp 1.6M

-15.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$1,556 Rp 27.6M

-68.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$924 Rp 16.4M

-68.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$4,848 Rp 85.8M

-81.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$2,307 Rp 40.9M

-77.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$3,720 Rp 65.9M

-46.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$3,051 Rp 54.0M

-52.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,556 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $309 – 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 81% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,528 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $544 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 $932, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,685. 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 $932 versus $1,685 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.