🙂A single person spends $736 per month in Metro, Lampung vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,157 per month in Metro, Lampung vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,579 per month in Metro, Lampung vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Metro, Lampung is about 21% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Metro, Lampung and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Metro, Lampung46% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59Rp 45.9K
$2.08฿69.5
24.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.38Rp 272.3K
$19.61฿655
-21.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 58.8K
$5.67฿189
-41.45%
Cappuccino
$2.02Rp 35.8K
$1.81฿60.3
11.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,007
$0.77฿25.65
-41.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,227
$0.35฿11.53
-31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61Rp 46.2K
$2.21฿73.9
18.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99Rp 70.6K
$3.79฿127
5.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41Rp 24.9K
$2.05฿68.4
-31.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 19.7K
$1.51฿50.6
-26.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.1K
$1.40฿46.69
-35.00%
Eggs
$1.74Rp 30.9K
$2.26฿75.4
-23.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.67Rp 171.2K
$16.19฿540
-40.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 54.5K
$2.90฿96.7
6.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64Rp 135.3K
$9.42฿314
-18.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93Rp 51.9K
$2.68฿89.4
9.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40Rp 24.7K
$1.09฿36.37
28.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64Rp 46.7K
$1.62฿54.0
62.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.1K
$1.46฿48.74
-2.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.1K
$1.28฿42.65
10.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.4K
$1.06฿35.31
104.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 16.3K
$0.72฿23.94
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,296
$0.53฿17.56
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91Rp 51.5K
$4.23฿141
-31.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.31Rp 377.3K
$18.29฿611
16.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.6K
$1.63฿54.4
30.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05Rp 54.0K
$2.90฿96.8
5.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,409
$0.88฿29.32
-71.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,795
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50Rp 8,836
$1.17฿39.14
-57.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,781
$0.58฿19.30
-43.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$2.39฿79.6
43.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.7K
$1.45฿48.41
-42.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KRp 497.0M
$21.0K฿701.4K
33.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KRp 598.8M
$26.4K฿882.0K
27.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108Rp 1.9M
$63.7฿2,125
69.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.02Rp 106.6K
$12.89฿430
-53.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.18Rp 339.6K
$20.52฿685
-6.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.05Rp 390.4K
$39.02฿1,302
-43.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.41Rp 131.2K
$3.92฿131
89.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32Rp 58.7K
$6.58฿220
-49.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$784฿26.2K
-79.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,449Rp 149.6M
$14.7K฿489.8K
-42.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0Rp 1.0M
$55.1฿1,840
7.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10Rp 515.4K
$24.74฿826
17.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3Rp 1.3M
$94.1฿3,142
-23.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109Rp 1.9M
$74.0฿2,469
46.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206Rp 3.6M
$490฿16.4K
-58.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175Rp 3.1M
$288฿9,620
-39.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$528Rp 9.3M
$891฿29.8K
-40.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 5.9M
$521฿17.4K
-35.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,201Rp 21.3M
$1,974฿65.9K
-39.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$687Rp 12.2M
$1,444฿48.2K
-52.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Metro, Lampung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
5.57
69.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Metro, Lampung: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $206 in Metro, Lampung versus $490 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 $15.00 in Metro, Lampung versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $241 – making Metro, Lampung 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
Metro, Lampung vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Metro, Lampung or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Metro, Lampung, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Metro, Lampung and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Metro, Lampung and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Metro, Lampung or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Metro, Lampung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Metro, Lampung and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Metro, Lampung and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Metro, Lampung or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Metro, Lampung or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metro, Lampung, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Metro, Lampung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Metro, Lampung or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Metro, Lampung costs $736 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Metro, Lampung compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Metro, Lampung or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Metro, Lampung. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Metro, Lampung vs other spots: cost of living compared