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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $527 per month in Surakarta vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Surakarta vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,172 per month in Surakarta vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Surakarta is about 44% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Surakarta and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Surakarta 62% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

$2.08 ฿69.5

-20.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 Rp 206.6K

$19.61 ฿655

-40.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 55.7K

$5.67 ฿189

-44.62%

Cappuccino

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.81 ฿60.3

-12.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,756

$0.77 ฿25.65

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 Rp 4,051

$0.35 ฿11.53

-34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

$2.21 ฿73.9

-35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.4K

$3.79 ฿127

-23.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 Rp 16.1K

$2.05 ฿68.4

-55.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

$1.51 ฿50.6

-50.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$1.40 ฿46.69

-45.00%

Eggs

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$2.26 ฿75.4

-55.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 Rp 142.0K

$16.19 ฿540

-50.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.75 Rp 30.9K

$2.90 ฿96.7

-39.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.35 Rp 94.8K

$9.42 ฿314

-43.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.4K

$2.68 ฿89.4

-21.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.09 ฿36.37

16.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

$1.62 ฿54.0

19.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.46 ฿48.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.28 ฿42.65

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$1.06 ฿35.31

57.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

$0.72 ฿23.94

-19.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,247

$0.53 ฿17.56

-22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 Rp 35.4K

$4.23 ฿141

-52.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 Rp 151.7K

$18.29 ฿611

-53.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

$1.63 ฿54.4

6.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.6K

$2.90 ฿96.8

0.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,862

$0.88 ฿29.32

-55.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.73 Rp 402.5K

$53.8 ฿1,795

-57.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 Rp 9,109

$1.17 ฿39.14

-56.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,269

$0.58 ฿19.30

-18.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$2.39 ฿79.6

12.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

$1.45 ฿48.41

-49.66%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.4K Rp 450.5M

$21.0K ฿701.4K

21.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K Rp 592.7M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

26.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

$63.7 ฿2,125

27.68%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$12.89 ฿430

-84.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.91 Rp 334.8K

$20.52 ฿685

-7.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.12 Rp 285.5K

$39.02 ฿1,302

-58.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.56 Rp 151.6K

$3.92 ฿131

118.37%

Cinema Ticket

$2.00 Rp 35.5K

$6.58 ฿220

-69.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$33.61 Rp 595.2K

$784 ฿26.2K

-95.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,873 Rp 33.2M

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-87.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 Rp 1.0M

$55.1 ฿1,840

7.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.91 Rp 653.5K

$24.74 ฿826

49.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 Rp 1.3M

$94.1 ฿3,142

-23.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$74.0 ฿2,469

-8.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$490 ฿16.4K

-65.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 Rp 1.0M

$288 ฿9,620

-80.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 Rp 6.0M

$891 ฿29.8K

-61.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 Rp 3.5M

$521 ฿17.4K

-62.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$602 ฿20.1K

-72.92%

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 Surakarta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Surakarta 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.

Salaries run about 269% 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 Surakarta versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $241 – making Surakarta 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

Surakarta vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 77% more than Surakarta, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $790 per month in Surakarta and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $33.61 per month in Surakarta and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $527, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Surakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surakarta costs $527 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Surakarta. 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.