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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medan is 10.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medan is 10.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 25% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85 Rp 30.1K
$2.02 ฿65.3
-8.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.83 Rp 175.8K
$18.78 ฿608
-42.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.18 Rp 51.6K
$7.67 ฿248
-58.54%
Cappuccino
$1.78 Rp 28.9K
$1.98 ฿64.2
-10.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 6,841
$0.82 ฿26.64
-48.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,406
$0.33 ฿10.58
-18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 Rp 25.4K
$2.12 ฿68.6
-26.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 Rp 86.5K
$3.73 ฿121
42.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 20K
$1.64 ฿53.2
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 Rp 18.1K
$1.57 ฿50.9
-28.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 Rp 13.2K
$1.19 ฿38.62
-31.93%
Eggs
$1.5 Rp 24.3K
$1.98 ฿64.1
-24.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 Rp 151.2K
$15.99 ฿517
-41.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 Rp 60.7K
$3.12 ฿101
19.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.07 Rp 114.7K
$11.16 ฿361
-36.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 37.2K
$2.76 ฿89.2
-17.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 Rp 16.8K
$1.22 ฿39.5
-14.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 Rp 24.4K
$1.71 ฿55.4
-12.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 14.1K
$1.55 ฿50.2
-43.87%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 Rp 12.2K
$1.34 ฿43.21
-44.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 21.2K
$1.21 ฿39.23
8.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 Rp 6,810
$0.72 ฿23.2
-41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.5 Rp 8,175
$0.53 ฿17.05
-5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 Rp 39.5K
$4.72 ฿153
-48.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.77 Rp 109.8K
$18.39 ฿595
-63.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 21.7K
$1.79 ฿57.9
-25.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 Rp 52.4K
$3.21 ฿104
0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 Rp 4,819
$0.94 ฿30.44
-68.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.99 Rp 162.2K
$18.9 ฿612
-47.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 8,703
$1.42 ฿46.08
-61.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 Rp 3,573
$1.35 ฿43.53
-83.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6 Rp 97.3K
$7.85 ฿254
-23.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 13.8K
$1.25 ฿40.4
-32.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Rp 445.8M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
29.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K Rp 559.1M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
57.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 Rp 1.3M
$70.6 ฿2,285
16.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.63 Rp 58.9K
$13.72 ฿444
-73.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.38 Rp 541.8K
$17.56 ฿568
90.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.25 Rp 377.4K
$41.64 ฿1,347
-44.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.99 Rp 113.4K
$6.9 ฿223
1.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.63 Rp 58.9K
$5.8 ฿188
-37.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$125 Rp 2M
$308 ฿9,963
-59.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K Rp 176.4M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-26.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5 Rp 1.1M
$55.4 ฿1,793
20.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.8 Rp 711K
$26.4 ฿854
65.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 Rp 1.9M
$85.1 ฿2,755
39.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 Rp 2M
$71.8 ฿2,323
71.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 Rp 3.1M
$434 ฿14K
-55.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97 Rp 1.6M
$235 ฿7,610
-58.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$541 Rp 8.8M
$821 ฿26.6K
-34.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 Rp 3.8M
$498 ฿16.1K
-52.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,311 Rp 21.3M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-39.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$599 Rp 9.7M
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-61.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$221 Rp 3.6M
$703 ฿22.8K
-68.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.25
5
85.00%

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

Last update for Medan: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.