🙂A single person spends $668 per month in Sidoarjo vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,010 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sidoarjo is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sidoarjo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sidoarjo50% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51Rp 26.1K
$1.96฿63.6
-22.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 209.9K
$18.81฿611
-35.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03Rp 52.4K
$7.92฿258
-61.74%
Cappuccino
$0.59Rp 10.1K
$1.91฿62.2
-69.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,131
$0.84฿27.25
-44.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,451
$0.35฿11.44
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 42.1K
$2.21฿71.7
10.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02Rp 69.5K
$3.80฿124
5.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37Rp 23.7K
$1.64฿53.2
-16.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 19.7K
$1.62฿52.8
-29.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.5K
$1.18฿38.40
-14.41%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 24.9K
$2.01฿65.4
-28.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.11Rp 157.3K
$15.89฿517
-42.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.52Rp 43.4K
$3.01฿98.0
-16.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.97Rp 103.1K
$10.77฿350
-44.57%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.2K
$2.61฿85.0
-63.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59Rp 10.2K
$1.22฿39.65
-51.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$1.70฿55.4
-53.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60Rp 10.3K
$1.58฿51.2
-62.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.4K
$1.32฿42.89
-37.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.4K
$1.17฿38.01
-4.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32Rp 5,537
$0.67฿21.85
-52.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,383
$0.56฿18.21
-23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12Rp 36.7K
$4.53฿147
-53.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.21Rp 452.5K
$18.20฿592
44.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 30.8K
$1.83฿59.6
-2.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 57.1K
$3.23฿105
2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,565
$0.89฿28.83
-64.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.66Rp 166.8K
$19.38฿630
-50.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,749
$1.35฿43.95
-66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,387
$1.35฿43.79
-77.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.26Rp 21.7K
$8.25฿268
-84.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$1.27฿41.40
-37.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KRp 360.1M
$21.2K฿687.8K
-1.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KRp 599.5M
$22.5K฿731.0K
54.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.5Rp 1.4M
$70.2฿2,281
17.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 73.4K
$13.77฿448
-69.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.12Rp 209.2K
$17.60฿572
-31.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.33Rp 402.8K
$41.57฿1,352
-43.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.99Rp 103.5K
$6.60฿215
-9.24%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97Rp 51.4K
$5.78฿188
-48.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189Rp 3.3M
$306฿9,953
-38.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,440Rp 163.0M
$14.8K฿482.0K
-36.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6Rp 1.1M
$54.4฿1,768
15.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43Rp 680.8K
$26.14฿850
50.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.1Rp 1.3M
$84.5฿2,748
-8.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2Rp 1.5M
$69.4฿2,257
21.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.5M
$424฿13.8K
-38.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$238฿7,743
-34.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.1M
$825฿26.8K
-29.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.7M
$515฿16.7K
-36.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,242Rp 21.4M
$2,049฿66.6K
-39.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$762Rp 13.1M
$1,523฿49.5K
-49.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
5
66.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidoarjo: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Sidoarjo 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Sidoarjo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $243 – 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 28% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,002 per month in Sidoarjo 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, 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 childcare costs compare in Sidoarjo and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $189 per month in Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 31% 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 Sidoarjo or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $668 in Sidoarjo and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sidoarjo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sidoarjo costs $668 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 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 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.