Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 63% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$1.96 ฿65.9

76.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$18.35 ฿617

76.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$7.48 ฿252

-35.29%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$2.02 ฿67.8

36.14%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.85 ฿28.52

62.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.36 ฿11.97

108.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$2.14 ฿71.9

39.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$3.59 ฿121

7.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.65 ฿55.5

5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.57 ฿52.7

56.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.19 ฿40.05

-1.68%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.94 ฿65.1

25.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$16.19 ฿545

-10.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$2.99 ฿101

45.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$10.94 ฿368

9.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$2.71 ฿91.2

37.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.17 ฿39.27

39.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$1.69 ฿56.8

62.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$1.60 ฿54.0

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$1.38 ฿46.56

39.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.20 ฿40.47

90.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.67 ฿22.51

58.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.56 ฿18.74

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$4.64 ฿156

-29.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$17.62 ฿593

31.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.86 ฿62.6

49.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$3.30 ฿111

-17.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.88 ฿29.70

-69.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$19.34 ฿651

-58.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$1.36 ฿45.92

-64.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$1.34 ฿45.00

-68.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$8.21 ฿276

-24.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.22 ฿41.20

-33.61%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$21.4K ฿718.5K

24.62%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$22.5K ฿758.1K

42.88%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$70.7 ฿2,378

10.87%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$14.04 ฿472

-71.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$17.49 ฿589

39.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$42.15 ฿1,418

133.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$6.88 ฿231

-7.85%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$5.92 ฿199

-32.60%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$309 ฿10.4K

-1.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-55.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$55.8 ฿1,876

-2.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$26.11 ฿879

44.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$83.0 ฿2,793

4.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$70.5 ฿2,371

8.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$432 ฿14.5K

129.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$239 ฿8,040

181.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$822 ฿27.7K

310.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$512 ฿17.2K

300.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$1,915 ฿64.4K

46.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$1,467 ฿49.4K

51.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$579 ฿19.5K

-71.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

165.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $432 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 247% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai 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

Ubud, Bali vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 63% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.