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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,246 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,231 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,217 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kuta, Bali costs about 44% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kuta, Bali and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Bali 7% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 Rp 56.9K

$1.94 ฿63.8

62.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.76 Rp 518.7K

$18.64 ฿611

54.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 Rp 80.4K

$7.82 ฿256

-42.97%

Cappuccino

$2.40 Rp 43.3K

$1.95 ฿64.1

23.08%

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

$1.20 Rp 21.7K

$0.85 ฿27.88

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 Rp 11.7K

$0.35 ฿11.63

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 Rp 46.2K

$2.13 ฿69.9

20.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 Rp 60.3K

$3.73 ฿122

-10.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 Rp 29.9K

$1.71 ฿56.2

-2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 Rp 42.5K

$1.63 ฿53.4

44.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

$1.14 ฿37.30

0.88%

Eggs

$2.26 Rp 40.8K

$1.93 ฿63.4

17.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 Rp 252.9K

$16.21 ฿532

-13.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 72.7K

$3.12 ฿102

29.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.29 Rp 203.6K

$10.90 ฿357

3.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 Rp 63.3K

$2.75 ฿90.3

27.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.9K

$1.21 ฿39.68

27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 Rp 47.7K

$1.62 ฿53.2

62.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.59 ฿52.0

40.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 Rp 32.8K

$1.40 ฿45.89

30.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 Rp 37.7K

$1.17 ฿38.32

78.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.5K

$0.66 ฿21.69

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

$0.53 ฿17.29

39.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 Rp 55.9K

$4.69 ฿154

-33.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.84 Rp 411.8K

$18.66 ฿612

22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 Rp 48.3K

$1.80 ฿59.0

48.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 Rp 47.0K

$3.23 ฿106

-19.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,774

$0.90 ฿29.37

-64.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.11 Rp 164.4K

$19.21 ฿630

-52.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 Rp 9,741

$1.41 ฿46.10

-61.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 Rp 8,895

$1.29 ฿42.29

-62.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 Rp 125.2K

$7.84 ฿257

-11.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

$1.27 ฿41.75

-29.92%

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

$29.1K Rp 524.4M

$21.3K ฿697.7K

36.65%

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

$35.4K Rp 639.0M

$22.2K ฿728.3K

59.51%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$69.1 ฿2,265

15.68%

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

$3.94 Rp 71.0K

$14.08 ฿462

-72.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.19 Rp 436.2K

$18.00 ฿590

34.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.5 Rp 1.6M

$41.06 ฿1,346

110.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.74 Rp 103.5K

$6.96 ฿228

-17.53%

Cinema Ticket

$3.49 Rp 63.0K

$5.92 ฿194

-41.05%

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

$276 Rp 5.0M

$299 ฿9,805

-7.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,031 Rp 108.8M

$15.0K ฿490.3K

-59.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 Rp 988.5K

$54.7 ฿1,794

0.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.07 Rp 686.6K

$26.77 ฿878

42.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 Rp 1.6M

$85.0 ฿2,787

4.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

$70.6 ฿2,315

8.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$812 Rp 14.6M

$428 ฿14.0K

89.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 Rp 10.0M

$237 ฿7,782

134.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,758 Rp 49.7M

$801 ฿26.3K

244.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.8M

$515 ฿16.9K

231.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,285 Rp 41.2M

$1,975 ฿64.7K

15.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,870 Rp 33.7M

$1,475 ฿48.4K

26.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

165.60%

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

Last update for Kuta, Bali: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $812 in Kuta, Bali versus $428 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Kuta, Bali versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $246 – 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

Kuta, Bali vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuta, Bali costs about 44% 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 $1,868 per month in Kuta, Bali and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. 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 $276 per month in Kuta, Bali and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Kuta, 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 Kuta, Bali at $1,246. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuta, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,246 in Kuta, 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, Kuta, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.