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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,759 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,176 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,593 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 51% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$4.27 Rp 76.7K

-54.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$39.90 Rp 717.1K

-54.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.16 Rp 110.6K

21.43%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

-38.60%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.62 Rp 29.2K

-47.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

-59.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.53 Rp 63.5K

-39.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.76 Rp 85.5K

-24.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.87 Rp 33.7K

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.63 Rp 47.3K

-40.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.27 Rp 22.8K

-6.30%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.57 Rp 46.1K

-24.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$15.13 Rp 271.9K

7.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.37 Rp 78.6K

-31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$12.43 Rp 223.3K

-11.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.96 Rp 71.2K

-31.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.63 Rp 29.3K

-28.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

-41.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

-31.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.00 Rp 36.0K

-31.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.30 Rp 41.4K

-47.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.08 Rp 19.4K

-37.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

-30.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.28 Rp 59.0K

41.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$24.45 Rp 439.4K

-27.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.89 Rp 52.0K

-35.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.87 Rp 51.6K

14.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.36 Rp 6,518

144.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$10.28 Rp 184.8K

88.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

138.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

135.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.63 Rp 137.0K

7.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

15.09%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$32.2K Rp 578.0M

-33.61%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$40.3K Rp 723.6M

-44.05%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$88.2 Rp 1.6M

-19.91%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.47 Rp 80.4K

214.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$26.05 Rp 468.2K

-32.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$115 Rp 2.1M

-63.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.75 Rp 139.3K

-11.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.70 Rp 84.5K

25.96%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$339 Rp 6.1M

-9.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$7,595 Rp 136.5M

95.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$60.8 Rp 1.1M

-8.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$42.63 Rp 766.1K

-38.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$97.9 Rp 1.8M

-15.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-18.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$1,369 Rp 24.6M

-68.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$920 Rp 16.5M

-74.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$4,495 Rp 80.8M

-81.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$2,803 Rp 50.4M

-81.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,751 Rp 67.4M

-48.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$3,040 Rp 54.6M

-51.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $1,369 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $312 – 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 104% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,638 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $339 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 $861, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,759. 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 $861 versus $1,759 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.