🙂A single person spends $645 per month in Sidoarjo vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $987 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,329 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sidoarjo is about 31% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sidoarjo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sidoarjo53% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.66Rp 29.3K
$2.08฿69.5
-20.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.30Rp 200.1K
$19.61฿655
-42.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.26Rp 57.7K
$5.67฿189
-42.50%
Cappuccino
$0.55Rp 9,770
$1.81฿60.3
-69.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,157
$0.77฿25.65
-40.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,571
$0.35฿11.53
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$2.21฿73.9
0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13Rp 73.2K
$3.79฿127
8.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.7K
$2.05฿68.4
-40.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$1.51฿50.6
-31.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85Rp 15.0K
$1.40฿46.69
-39.29%
Eggs
$1.22Rp 21.6K
$2.26฿75.4
-46.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.99Rp 141.5K
$16.19฿540
-50.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.99Rp 35.2K
$2.90฿96.7
-31.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.51Rp 97.5K
$9.42฿314
-41.51%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$2.68฿89.4
-66.42%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59Rp 10.4K
$1.09฿36.37
-45.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72Rp 12.8K
$1.62฿54.0
-55.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58Rp 10.3K
$1.46฿48.74
-60.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$1.28฿42.65
-44.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04Rp 18.5K
$1.06฿35.31
-1.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.29Rp 5,159
$0.72฿23.94
-59.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,170
$0.53฿17.56
-24.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$4.23฿141
-54.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.00Rp 442.7K
$18.29฿611
36.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69Rp 29.9K
$1.63฿54.4
3.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97Rp 52.5K
$2.90฿96.8
2.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31Rp 5,437
$0.88฿29.32
-64.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,795
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,892
$1.17฿39.14
-61.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,794
$0.58฿19.30
-34.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.15Rp 20.3K
$2.39฿79.6
-51.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$1.45฿48.41
-44.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KRp 449.3M
$21.0K฿701.4K
20.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9KRp 581.7M
$26.4K฿882.0K
24.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.9Rp 1.5M
$63.7฿2,125
36.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.81Rp 85.2K
$12.89฿430
-62.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.28Rp 199.7K
$20.52฿685
-45.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.85Rp 333.8K
$39.02฿1,302
-51.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.75Rp 155.0K
$3.92฿131
123.21%
Cinema Ticket
$2.72Rp 48.2K
$6.58฿220
-58.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.8Rp 1.7M
$784฿26.2K
-87.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,789Rp 173.3M
$14.7K฿489.8K
-33.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1Rp 1.3M
$55.1฿1,840
30.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05Rp 709.2K
$24.74฿826
61.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$94.1฿3,142
-10.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0Rp 1.3M
$74.0฿2,469
0.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$229Rp 4.1M
$490฿16.4K
-53.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.7M
$288฿9,620
-46.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$569Rp 10.1M
$891฿29.8K
-36.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361Rp 6.4M
$521฿17.4K
-30.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,212Rp 21.5M
$1,974฿65.9K
-38.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$677Rp 12.0M
$1,444฿48.2K
-53.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
5.57
34.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidoarjo: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Sidoarjo 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 $11.00 in Sidoarjo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $241 – making Sidoarjo 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
Sidoarjo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sidoarjo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Sidoarjo, 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 Sidoarjo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $968 per month in Sidoarjo 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, Sidoarjo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidoarjo, 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 Sidoarjo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 42% 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 Sidoarjo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sidoarjo 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, Sidoarjo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sidoarjo costs $645 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 Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sidoarjo. 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.