🙂A single person spends $660 per month in Surakarta vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $999 per month in Surakarta vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,339 per month in Surakarta vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Surakarta is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Surakarta and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Surakarta51% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50Rp 25.9K
$1.96฿63.6
-23.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.10Rp 209.0K
$18.81฿611
-35.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.16Rp 54.5K
$7.92฿258
-60.10%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 28.4K
$1.91฿62.2
-13.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.4K
$0.84฿27.25
-28.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,703
$0.35฿11.44
-22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85Rp 31.9K
$2.21฿71.7
-16.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84Rp 49.1K
$3.80฿124
-25.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15Rp 19.8K
$1.64฿53.2
-29.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90Rp 15.6K
$1.62฿52.8
-44.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75Rp 12.9K
$1.18฿38.40
-36.44%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.3K
$2.01฿65.4
-38.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.99Rp 155.2K
$15.89฿517
-43.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.89Rp 50.0K
$3.01฿98.0
-3.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.27Rp 125.5K
$10.77฿350
-32.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 41.5K
$2.61฿85.0
-8.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rp 26.6K
$1.22฿39.65
26.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12Rp 36.5K
$1.70฿55.4
24.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39Rp 24.1K
$1.58฿51.2
-12.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 23.7K
$1.32฿42.89
3.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65Rp 28.5K
$1.17฿38.01
41.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62Rp 10.7K
$0.67฿21.85
-7.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 7,868
$0.56฿18.21
-17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18Rp 37.6K
$4.53฿147
-51.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.86Rp 153.0K
$18.20฿592
-51.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 30.7K
$1.83฿59.6
-2.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 54.4K
$3.23฿105
-2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45Rp 7,728
$0.89฿28.83
-49.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.08Rp 174.1K
$19.38฿630
-47.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,613
$1.35฿43.95
-67.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 4,983
$1.35฿43.79
-78.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$8.25฿268
-67.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.3K
$1.27฿41.40
-39.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 358.3M
$21.2K฿687.8K
-1.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KRp 606.6M
$22.5K฿731.0K
56.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.9Rp 1.5M
$70.2฿2,281
20.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.22Rp 38.4K
$13.77฿448
-83.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.77Rp 341.3K
$17.60฿572
12.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.77Rp 341.3K
$41.57฿1,352
-52.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 103.6K
$6.60฿215
-9.09%
Cinema Ticket
$2.21Rp 38.2K
$5.78฿188
-61.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.42Rp 646.0K
$306฿9,953
-87.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,046Rp 35.3M
$14.8K฿482.0K
-86.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3Rp 1.1M
$54.4฿1,768
14.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.19Rp 659.4K
$26.14฿850
46.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.7Rp 1.3M
$84.5฿2,748
-8.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9Rp 1.2M
$69.4฿2,257
2.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.5M
$424฿13.8K
-38.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$238฿7,743
-34.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581Rp 10.0M
$825฿26.8K
-29.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331Rp 5.7M
$515฿16.7K
-35.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surakarta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 2.8M
$635฿20.6K
-74.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
5
66.60%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Surakarta: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Surakarta 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 288% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $243 – making Surakarta 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
Surakarta vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Surakarta or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 29% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Surakarta vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $990 per month in Surakarta 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, Surakarta or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Surakarta and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $37.42 per month in Surakarta 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 Surakarta or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 38% 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 $1,200/month in Surakarta or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $660 in Surakarta and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Surakarta or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surakarta costs $660 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 Surakarta 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 Surakarta or Chiang Mai?
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.
Surakarta vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado