🙂A single person spends $690 per month in Tanjung Pinang vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,061 per month in Tanjung Pinang vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,431 per month in Tanjung Pinang vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Tanjung Pinang is about 19% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tanjung Pinang and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tanjung Pinang48% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70Rp 66.9K
$2.04฿68.2
81.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.17Rp 219.7K
$18.71฿624
-34.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 59.9K
$7.86฿262
-57.76%
Cappuccino
$1.73Rp 31.2K
$2.03฿67.7
-14.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,880
$0.80฿26.64
-31.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,117
$0.35฿11.68
-20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42Rp 43.8K
$2.14฿71.5
13.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52Rp 63.5K
$3.67฿122
-4.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 22.1K
$1.73฿57.6
-29.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.4K
$1.57฿52.4
-28.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.20฿39.99
-20.83%
Eggs
$1.37Rp 24.7K
$1.97฿65.8
-30.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.36Rp 150.9K
$16.23฿541
-48.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06Rp 55.3K
$3.06฿102
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.80Rp 140.8K
$10.80฿360
-27.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 41.3K
$2.77฿92.3
-17.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.2K
$1.17฿38.94
29.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79Rp 32.2K
$1.71฿57.0
4.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.59฿53.2
-4.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39Rp 25.0K
$1.39฿46.51
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.0K
$1.16฿38.56
62.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$0.66฿22.05
42.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,502
$0.52฿17.31
-19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96Rp 35.3K
$4.65฿155
-57.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.25Rp 401.7K
$17.78฿593
25.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05Rp 37.1K
$1.79฿59.6
14.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13Rp 56.4K
$3.34฿111
-6.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,845
$0.91฿30.27
-64.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.65Rp 174.3K
$18.64฿622
-48.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 10.2K
$1.41฿47.04
-60.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,220
$1.34฿44.70
-74.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.93Rp 52.9K
$8.11฿270
-63.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74Rp 13.3K
$1.23฿41.16
-39.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 441.0M
$21.4K฿715.1K
13.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KRp 501.6M
$21.8K฿728.0K
27.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9Rp 1.3M
$71.3฿2,379
-1.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31Rp 77.9K
$14.01฿467
-69.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.67Rp 409.2K
$17.93฿598
26.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.17Rp 418.3K
$40.82฿1,362
-43.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98Rp 108.0K
$6.88฿230
-13.08%
Cinema Ticket
$2.60Rp 46.9K
$5.72฿191
-54.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.9Rp 1.7M
$308฿10.3K
-69.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,694Rp 138.9M
$14.7K฿489.7K
-47.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.22Rp 744.2K
$55.8฿1,860
-26.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.02Rp 559.9K
$26.04฿869
19.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.0Rp 1.2M
$84.8฿2,829
-19.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0Rp 1.4M
$71.0฿2,368
5.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.7M
$423฿14.1K
-38.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$242฿8,088
-36.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595Rp 10.7M
$797฿26.6K
-25.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 6.0M
$507฿16.9K
-34.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,232Rp 22.2M
$1,918฿64.0K
-35.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$682Rp 12.3M
$1,464฿48.8K
-53.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tanjung Pinang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$194Rp 3.5M
$595฿19.9K
-67.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5
30.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tanjung Pinang: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Tanjung Pinang versus $423 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 207% 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 Tanjung Pinang versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $244 – making Tanjung Pinang 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
Tanjung Pinang vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tanjung Pinang or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Tanjung Pinang, 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 Tanjung Pinang and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,036 per month in Tanjung Pinang and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tanjung Pinang or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tanjung Pinang, 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 Tanjung Pinang and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.9 per month in Tanjung Pinang and $308 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 Tanjung Pinang or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 $800/month in Tanjung Pinang or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $690 in Tanjung Pinang and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tanjung Pinang or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tanjung Pinang costs $690 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 Tanjung Pinang 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 Tanjung Pinang or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tanjung Pinang. 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.
Tanjung Pinang vs other spots: cost of living compared