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 $1,240 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,243 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,246 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kuta, Bali costs about 42% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kuta, Bali and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Bali 8% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 Rp 52.4K

$2.01 ฿64.5

52.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.99 Rp 479.7K

$18.23 ฿584

53.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.25 Rp 72.8K

$7.65 ฿245

-44.44%

Cappuccino

$2.36 Rp 40.4K

$1.92 ฿61.5

22.92%

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

$1.22 Rp 21.0K

$0.84 ฿26.96

45.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 Rp 11.1K

$0.36 ฿11.42

80.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 Rp 45.5K

$2.19 ฿70.2

21.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 Rp 59.6K

$3.79 ฿121

-8.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 Rp 28.3K

$1.64 ฿52.5

0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 Rp 39.6K

$1.62 ฿51.9

42.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 Rp 18.7K

$1.15 ฿36.96

-5.22%

Eggs

$2.36 Rp 40.4K

$1.94 ฿62.1

21.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 Rp 242.7K

$15.94 ฿511

-11.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 Rp 67.7K

$3.10 ฿99.4

27.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.34 Rp 194.3K

$11.07 ฿355

2.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 Rp 60.5K

$2.71 ฿86.7

30.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 Rp 26.1K

$1.18 ฿37.77

28.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.0K

$1.71 ฿54.6

57.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 Rp 36.8K

$1.61 ฿51.4

33.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 31.3K

$1.39 ฿44.63

31.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 Rp 37.0K

$1.15 ฿36.78

87.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.6K

$0.71 ฿22.81

45.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 11.8K

$0.55 ฿17.63

25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 Rp 51.8K

$4.57 ฿146

-33.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.17 Rp 379.9K

$18.87 ฿605

17.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.0K

$1.82 ฿58.3

50.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 Rp 46.5K

$3.21 ฿103

-15.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,517

$0.88 ฿28.23

-63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.00 Rp 154.2K

$18.89 ฿605

-52.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 Rp 9,198

$1.41 ฿45.27

-61.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 Rp 8,493

$1.30 ฿41.68

-61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 Rp 116.2K

$8.20 ฿263

-17.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 Rp 16.1K

$1.23 ฿39.27

-23.58%

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

$29.1K Rp 499.4M

$21.2K ฿678.5K

37.63%

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

$35.8K Rp 613.1M

$22.3K ฿714.9K

60.36%

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

$81.0 Rp 1.4M

$69.9 ฿2,239

15.92%

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

$3.96 Rp 67.9K

$14.07 ฿451

-71.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.50 Rp 402.7K

$17.70 ฿567

32.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.4 Rp 1.4M

$41.41 ฿1,327

103.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 Rp 95.5K

$6.69 ฿214

-16.74%

Cinema Ticket

$3.65 Rp 62.5K

$5.74 ฿184

-36.41%

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

$277 Rp 4.7M

$299 ฿9,587

-7.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,904 Rp 101.2M

$15.0K ฿480.9K

-60.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 Rp 918.1K

$54.8 ฿1,756

-2.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.01 Rp 668.5K

$26.35 ฿844

48.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 Rp 1.5M

$84.7 ฿2,712

2.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$69.7 ฿2,234

13.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 Rp 14.2M

$427 ฿13.7K

93.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 Rp 9.6M

$241 ฿7,713

133.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,798 Rp 47.9M

$811 ฿26.0K

245.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 29.3M

$498 ฿16.0K

243.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,445 Rp 41.9M

$2,022 ฿64.8K

20.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 Rp 33.9M

$1,524 ฿48.8K

29.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.5K

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $828 in Kuta, Bali versus $427 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 $28 in Kuta, Bali versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 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 42% 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 $1,860 per month in Kuta, Bali and $1,308 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 $277 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 15% 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 $872, than in Kuta, Bali at $1,240. 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 $872 versus $1,240 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.