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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medan is 15.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 26.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medan is 25.8% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 26.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81 Rp 31.1K
$2.01 ฿64.4
-9.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.77 Rp 184.6K
$18.23 ฿583
-40.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.26 Rp 55.9K
$7.65 ฿244
-57.39%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 29.9K
$1.92 ฿61.3
-9.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,250
$0.84 ฿26.90
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,666
$0.36 ฿11.39
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 Rp 25.8K
$2.19 ฿70.0
-31.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 Rp 86.9K
$3.79 ฿121
33.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 21.0K
$1.64 ฿52.4
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 Rp 19.5K
$1.62 ฿51.8
-29.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 Rp 14.1K
$1.15 ฿36.88
-28.70%
Eggs
$1.57 Rp 26.9K
$1.94 ฿62.0
-19.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.84 Rp 168.7K
$15.94 ฿510
-38.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.91 Rp 67.1K
$3.10 ฿99.2
26.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.12 Rp 122.0K
$11.07 ฿354
-35.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 39.2K
$2.71 ฿86.5
-15.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 Rp 17.8K
$1.18 ฿37.69
-11.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 26.1K
$1.71 ฿54.5
-11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 Rp 15.9K
$1.61 ฿51.3
-42.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 Rp 11.8K
$1.39 ฿44.53
-50.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 22.3K
$1.15 ฿36.70
13.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 Rp 7,795
$0.71 ฿22.76
-36.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 7,987
$0.55 ฿17.60
-14.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 Rp 41.3K
$4.57 ฿146
-47.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.72 Rp 286.6K
$18.87 ฿603
-11.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 24.0K
$1.82 ฿58.2
-23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 Rp 54.6K
$3.21 ฿103
-0.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,070
$0.88 ฿28.16
-65.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.65 Rp 165.4K
$18.89 ฿604
-48.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 9,736
$1.41 ฿45.17
-59.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 Rp 3,425
$1.30 ฿41.59
-84.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.18 Rp 106.0K
$8.20 ฿262
-24.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.1K
$1.23 ฿39.18
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Rp 471.6M
$21.2K ฿677.0K
29.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K Rp 590.1M
$22.3K ฿713.3K
54.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.7 Rp 1.4M
$69.9 ฿2,234
16.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.49 Rp 59.8K
$14.07 ฿450
-75.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.41 Rp 572.6K
$17.70 ฿566
88.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.19 Rp 397.6K
$41.41 ฿1,324
-44.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.18 Rp 123.1K
$6.69 ฿214
7.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.48 Rp 59.6K
$5.74 ฿184
-39.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$124 Rp 2.1M
$299 ฿9,566
-58.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K Rp 187.2M
$15.0K ฿479.8K
-27.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8 Rp 1.1M
$54.8 ฿1,753
18.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.15 Rp 739.6K
$26.35 ฿842
63.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 Rp 2.0M
$84.7 ฿2,706
37.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8 Rp 1.1M
$69.7 ฿2,229
-5.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 Rp 3.4M
$427 ฿13.6K
-54.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.3 Rp 1.7M
$241 ฿7,697
-59.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 Rp 9.1M
$811 ฿25.9K
-34.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 Rp 4.0M
$498 ฿15.9K
-53.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,205 Rp 20.7M
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-40.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$587 Rp 10.1M
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-61.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 3.8M
$639 ฿20.4K
-65.13%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

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