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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $629 per month in Cimahi vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $960 per month in Cimahi vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,291 per month in Cimahi vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cimahi is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cimahi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cimahi 53% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
$1.98 ฿64.3
-35.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.19 Rp 164.7K
$18.80 ฿612
-51.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.39 Rp 60.8K
$7.75 ฿252
-56.26%
Cappuccino
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.92 ฿62.5
-19.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,739
$0.79 ฿25.79
-37.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 Rp 4,436
$0.36 ฿11.62
-30.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$2.21 ฿72.1
25.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 Rp 65.0K
$3.66 ฿119
-0.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
$1.65 ฿53.8
-29.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 Rp 19.7K
$1.63 ฿53.2
-32.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.6K
$1.19 ฿38.86
-26.89%
Eggs
$1.60 Rp 28.7K
$2.00 ฿65.1
-20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.62 Rp 118.7K
$15.98 ฿520
-58.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
$3.03 ฿98.5
-1.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.52 Rp 134.7K
$10.86 ฿354
-30.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.9K
$2.76 ฿90.0
-13.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
$1.18 ฿38.42
9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.64 ฿53.5
4.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
$1.52 ฿49.51
2.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 Rp 26.5K
$1.38 ฿45.10
7.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 Rp 46.9K
$1.19 ฿38.84
120.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 Rp 17.0K
$0.70 ฿22.86
35.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,629
$0.56 ฿18.13
-23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$4.58 ฿149
-44.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.32 Rp 382.0K
$16.56 ฿539
28.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 Rp 36.1K
$1.83 ฿59.5
10.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 Rp 57.1K
$3.20 ฿104
-0.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,802
$0.88 ฿28.56
-63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.10 Rp 181.0K
$18.72 ฿610
-46.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 9,601
$1.36 ฿44.16
-60.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,703
$1.34 ฿43.65
-72.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 Rp 45.6K
$7.84 ฿256
-67.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.7K
$1.23 ฿39.92
-38.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 433.6M
$21.6K ฿704.3K
11.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K Rp 461.5M
$22.5K ฿734.3K
14.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.30 Rp 793.8K
$70.5 ฿2,298
-37.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55 Rp 81.5K
$13.68 ฿445
-66.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.74 Rp 407.4K
$17.45 ฿568
30.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.21 Rp 415.8K
$41.33 ฿1,346
-43.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.26 Rp 112.2K
$6.96 ฿227
-10.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02 Rp 54.1K
$5.77 ฿188
-47.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.4 Rp 1.7M
$307 ฿10.0K
-69.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,733 Rp 138.5M
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-47.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.42 Rp 759.9K
$55.8 ฿1,817
-23.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.25 Rp 559.9K
$26.21 ฿854
19.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.1 Rp 1.1M
$85.8 ฿2,793
-31.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.5 Rp 1.2M
$72.2 ฿2,353
-10.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$260 Rp 4.7M
$430 ฿14.0K
-39.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$155 Rp 2.8M
$239 ฿7,774
-35.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 Rp 10.4M
$817 ฿26.6K
-28.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 Rp 6.1M
$511 ฿16.6K
-33.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$250 Rp 4.5M
$619 ฿20.2K
-59.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
5
83.00%

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

Last update for Cimahi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Cimahi versus $430 in Chiang Mai. 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 147% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Cimahi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $241 – making Cimahi 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
Cimahi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimahi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Cimahi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cimahi vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $943 per month in Cimahi and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cimahi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cimahi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Cimahi and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.4 per month in Cimahi and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimahi or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Cimahi or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $629 in Cimahi and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimahi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cimahi costs $629 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cimahi compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Cimahi or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Cimahi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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