Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Chang and Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Koh Chang: $965 a month against $1,224 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Koh Chang
🇹🇭 Thailand
$965
/mo nomad
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,224
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Koh Chang and in Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Koh Chang and in Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $965 per month in Koh Chang vs $1,224 in Bali, rent included.

  • Koh Chang $965
  • Bali $1,224

A couple spends around $1,583 per month in Koh Chang vs $2,064 in Bali, rent included.

  • Koh Chang $1,583
  • Bali $2,064

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Koh Chang vs $2,904 in Bali, rent included.

  • Koh Chang $2,200
  • Bali $2,904

Koh Chang is about 21% cheaper than Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Koh Chang and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Koh Chang 28% lower, Bali 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.63 ฿121
$2.74 Rp 49.0K
32.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.36 ฿883
$29.64 Rp 529.8K
-11.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.99 ฿234
$4.74 Rp 84.7K
47.47%
Cappuccino
$2.26 ฿75.6
$2.22 Rp 39.7K
1.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.91
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
-43.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.29
$0.66 Rp 11.8K
-39.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ฿68.4
$2.21 Rp 39.4K
-7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ฿101
$3.62 Rp 64.7K
-16.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.0
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
3.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 ฿44.00
$2.17 Rp 38.7K
-39.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 ฿47.17
$1.12 Rp 20.0K
25.89%
Eggs
$1.96 ฿65.8
$1.97 Rp 35.2K
-0.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.61 ฿590
$16.41 Rp 293.2K
7.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.00 ฿101
$3.63 Rp 65.0K
-17.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.66 ฿323
$11.53 Rp 206.2K
-16.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.8
$3.37 Rp 60.2K
-20.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.7
$1.46 Rp 26.0K
3.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.2
$2.15 Rp 38.4K
-3.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 ฿64.4
$1.90 Rp 34.0K
1.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.44
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
-24.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.81
$2.24 Rp 40.0K
-46.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿33.88
$0.94 Rp 16.8K
7.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.64
$0.48 Rp 8,577
4.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 ฿133
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
85.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.61 ฿556
$21.94 Rp 392.2K
-24.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ฿55.1
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
-27.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 ฿86.9
$2.77 Rp 49.6K
-6.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 ฿61.2
$0.26 Rp 4,661
603.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.08 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 ฿81.4
$0.44 Rp 7,853
452.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 ฿27.40
$0.42 Rp 7,491
95.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 ฿99.7
$5.66 Rp 101.1K
-47.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ฿39.79
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
32.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿707.5K
$24.2K Rp 433.4M
-12.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K ฿720.9K
$31.5K Rp 563.1M
-31.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.2 ฿3,152
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
17.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.67 ฿357
$6.63 Rp 118.5K
60.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.43 ฿550
$18.33 Rp 327.6K
-10.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.74 ฿1,498
$45.56 Rp 814.4K
-1.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.17 ฿307
$15.24 Rp 272.4K
-39.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 ฿217
$3.71 Rp 66.4K
74.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.4K
$442 Rp 7.9M
11.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ฿351.2K
$5,246 Rp 93.8M
99.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2 ฿2,016
$44.18 Rp 789.6K
36.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.51 ฿921
$34.13 Rp 610.1K
-19.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,026
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
17.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4 ฿2,758
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
9.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$473 ฿15.8K
$994 Rp 17.8M
-52.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 ฿10.1K
$588 Rp 10.5M
-48.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,334 ฿44.7K
$3,084 Rp 55.1M
-56.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ฿26.6K
$1,496 Rp 26.7M
-46.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,276 ฿76.2K
$2,383 Rp 42.6M
-4.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,651 ฿55.3K
$2,015 Rp 36.0M
-18.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Chang
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$223 Rp 4.0M
-
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 Koh Chang: October 5, 2026

Last update for Bali: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Koh Chang
$303
Bali
$588 94.1% $285
Groceries & Markets
Koh Chang
$242
Bali
$274 13.4% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Chang
$121
Bali
$105 13.4% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Koh Chang
$117
Bali
$104 11.5% $14
Eating Out
Koh Chang
$98
Bali
$89 9% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Koh Chang
$58
Bali
$53 8.1% $4.7
Getting Around
Koh Chang
$14 *
Bali
$12 15.8% $2.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Koh Chang versus $994 in 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 $26.00 in Koh Chang versus $30.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $274 – making Koh Chang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Koh Chang
🇮🇩 Bali
🕒 Local time
14:40 2:40 PM
15:40 3:40 PM
1 h ahead of Koh Chang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,500
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,048 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Koh Chang Bali 2,690 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Koh Chang
  • Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Koh Chang vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Koh Chang or Bali?
Bali costs about 27% more than Koh Chang, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Koh Chang and in Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,448 per month in Koh Chang and $1,836 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Koh Chang or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Koh Chang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Koh Chang compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $965 in Koh Chang and $1,224 in Bali. That's a gap of about 27%.
How do childcare costs compare in Koh Chang and in Bali?
Kindergarten costs $491 per month in Koh Chang and $442 in Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Koh Chang or in Bali?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Koh Chang, where all-in costs run around $965, than in Bali at $1,224. In Koh Chang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Koh Chang or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Koh Chang costs $965 versus $1,224 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Koh Chang compared to Bali?
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 Koh Chang or to Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Koh Chang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Koh Chang vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?