🙂A single person spends $788 per month in Tangerang vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,285 per month in Tangerang vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,783 per month in Tangerang vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Tangerang is about 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tangerang and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tangerang41% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.53Rp 27.3K
$1.94฿63.5
-21.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64Rp 332.9K
$18.64฿609
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 61.4K
$7.82฿255
-56.01%
Cappuccino
$1.71Rp 30.5K
$1.95฿63.8
-12.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 9,957
$0.85฿27.77
-34.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,047
$0.35฿11.58
-20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71Rp 48.5K
$2.13฿69.6
27.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62Rp 64.7K
$3.73฿122
-2.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 21.9K
$1.71฿56.0
-28.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.6K
$1.63฿53.2
-32.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$1.14฿37.15
-23.68%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.1K
$1.93฿63.1
-21.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.36Rp 167.1K
$16.21฿530
-42.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 57.9K
$3.12฿102
3.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.90Rp 141.1K
$10.90฿356
-27.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76Rp 49.2K
$2.75฿90.0
0.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.5K
$1.21฿39.52
23.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.3K
$1.62฿53.0
35.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.7K
$1.59฿51.8
-6.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47Rp 26.3K
$1.40฿45.70
5.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61Rp 46.6K
$1.17฿38.17
123.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$0.66฿21.60
53.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,203
$0.53฿17.22
-13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72Rp 48.5K
$4.69฿153
-42.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.08Rp 376.4K
$18.66฿609
12.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22Rp 39.7K
$1.80฿58.8
23.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22Rp 57.5K
$3.23฿106
-0.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,298
$0.90฿29.26
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.13Rp 145.2K
$19.21฿628
-57.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.1K
$1.41฿45.91
-59.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,234
$1.29฿42.12
-64.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59Rp 46.2K
$7.84฿256
-66.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$1.27฿41.58
-37.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7KRp 548.5M
$21.3K฿694.9K
44.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KRp 492.0M
$22.2K฿725.4K
24.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.9Rp 1.6M
$69.1฿2,256
33.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.70Rp 84.0K
$14.08฿460
-66.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.59Rp 403.3K
$18.00฿588
25.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.73Rp 352.3K
$41.06฿1,341
-51.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.60Rp 207.2K
$6.96฿227
66.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09Rp 55.2K
$5.92฿193
-47.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104Rp 1.9M
$299฿9,766
-65.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,016Rp 143.2M
$15.0K฿488.3K
-46.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.36Rp 738.7K
$54.7฿1,787
-24.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67Rp 547.8K
$26.77฿874
14.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.4Rp 1.3M
$85.0฿2,776
-17.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3Rp 1.4M
$70.6฿2,306
10.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$497Rp 8.9M
$428฿14.0K
16.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$250Rp 4.5M
$237฿7,752
5.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061Rp 18.9M
$801฿26.2K
32.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$642Rp 11.5M
$515฿16.8K
24.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,320Rp 23.6M
$1,975฿64.5K
-33.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$514Rp 9.2M
$1,475฿48.2K
-65.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tangerang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$280Rp 5.0M
$617฿20.2K
-54.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.59
5
91.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tangerang: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Tangerang versus $428 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 120% 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 $19.00 in Tangerang versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $246 – making Tangerang 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
Tangerang vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tangerang or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Tangerang, 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 Tangerang vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,182 per month in Tangerang and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tangerang or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tangerang, 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 Tangerang and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $104 per month in Tangerang and $299 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 Tangerang or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 13% 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 Tangerang or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $788 in Tangerang and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tangerang or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tangerang costs $788 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tangerang 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 Tangerang or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tangerang. 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.