🙂A single person spends $666 per month in Pontianak vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,038 per month in Pontianak vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,409 per month in Pontianak vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Pontianak is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Pontianak and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pontianak50% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.96฿64.0
-23.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.48Rp 216.3K
$18.81฿615
-33.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.16Rp 54.8K
$7.92฿259
-60.10%
Cappuccino
$1.73Rp 29.9K
$1.91฿62.6
-9.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,476
$0.84฿27.41
-34.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.35฿11.51
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.11Rp 53.9K
$2.21฿72.1
40.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40Rp 41.6K
$3.80฿124
-36.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 21.2K
$1.64฿53.5
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 19.7K
$1.62฿53.1
-29.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92Rp 16.0K
$1.18฿38.62
-22.03%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$2.01฿65.8
-21.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.05Rp 139.5K
$15.89฿520
-49.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 56.1K
$3.01฿98.5
7.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.94Rp 137.6K
$10.77฿352
-26.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36Rp 41.0K
$2.61฿85.5
-9.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.22฿39.88
23.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.2K
$1.70฿55.7
9.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.1K
$1.58฿51.5
-5.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 23.6K
$1.32฿43.14
3.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88Rp 32.6K
$1.17฿38.23
60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 15.6K
$0.67฿21.98
34.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,272
$0.56฿18.32
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83Rp 31.7K
$4.53฿148
-59.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.33Rp 387.1K
$18.20฿595
22.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11Rp 36.6K
$1.83฿60.0
15.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09Rp 53.5K
$3.23฿106
-4.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,168
$0.89฿29.00
-66.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.68Rp 167.7K
$19.38฿634
-50.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,206
$1.35฿44.20
-60.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 5,944
$1.35฿44.05
-74.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 51.1K
$8.25฿270
-64.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$1.27฿41.64
-33.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 424.0M
$21.2K฿691.8K
15.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 470.1M
$22.5K฿735.3K
20.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.5Rp 1.2M
$70.2฿2,294
-0.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.26Rp 73.8K
$13.77฿450
-69.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.38Rp 387.8K
$17.60฿575
27.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.87Rp 396.4K
$41.57฿1,360
-44.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.18Rp 107.1K
$6.60฿216
-6.36%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 52.3K
$5.78฿189
-47.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.0Rp 1.6M
$306฿10.0K
-69.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,626Rp 132.2M
$14.8K฿484.8K
-48.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.97Rp 710.2K
$54.4฿1,778
-24.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91Rp 535.7K
$26.14฿855
18.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.1Rp 1.1M
$84.5฿2,764
-21.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0Rp 1.3M
$69.4฿2,270
7.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255Rp 4.4M
$424฿13.9K
-39.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.7M
$238฿7,788
-35.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596Rp 10.3M
$825฿27.0K
-27.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331Rp 5.7M
$515฿16.8K
-35.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,116Rp 19.3M
$2,049฿67.0K
-45.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$828Rp 14.3M
$1,523฿49.8K
-45.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$355Rp 6.1M
$635฿20.8K
-44.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
5
83.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Pontianak: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Pontianak versus $424 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.
💰Salaries run about 79% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Pontianak versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $243 – making Pontianak the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Pontianak vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Pontianak or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Pontianak, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Pontianak vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $999 per month in Pontianak and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pontianak or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pontianak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Pontianak and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $92.0 per month in Pontianak and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Pontianak or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 15% 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 $1,000/month in Pontianak or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $666 in Pontianak and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pontianak or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pontianak costs $666 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pontianak 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 Pontianak or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Pontianak. 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.
Pontianak vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado