🙂A single person spends $640 per month in Yogyakarta vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,007 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,374 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Yogyakarta is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Yogyakarta and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Yogyakarta52% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.40Rp 25.1K
$1.96฿65.9
-28.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.47Rp 169.8K
$18.35฿617
-48.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.05Rp 54.8K
$7.48฿252
-59.22%
Cappuccino
$1.47Rp 26.3K
$2.02฿67.8
-27.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,116
$0.85฿28.52
-40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,629
$0.36฿11.97
-27.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51Rp 45.0K
$2.14฿71.9
17.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.1K
$3.59฿121
-8.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.65฿55.5
-29.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.57฿52.7
-12.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$1.19฿40.05
-26.89%
Eggs
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$1.94฿65.1
-30.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.88Rp 123.5K
$16.19฿545
-57.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18Rp 57.0K
$2.99฿101
6.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.14Rp 145.9K
$10.94฿368
-25.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.2K
$2.71฿91.2
-11.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$1.17฿39.27
23.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$1.69฿56.8
-15.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09Rp 19.6K
$1.60฿54.0
-31.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$1.38฿46.56
-20.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.8K
$1.20฿40.47
47.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46Rp 8,263
$0.67฿22.51
-31.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,371
$0.56฿18.74
-26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rp 45.3K
$4.64฿156
-45.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.65Rp 352.5K
$17.62฿593
11.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 33.1K
$1.86฿62.6
-0.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 56.4K
$3.30฿111
-4.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,755
$0.88฿29.70
-76.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.79Rp 175.6K
$19.34฿651
-49.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,590
$1.36฿45.92
-64.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,590
$1.34฿45.00
-76.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33Rp 77.7K
$8.21฿276
-47.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.22฿41.20
-33.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KRp 335.9M
$21.4K฿718.5K
-12.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 486.9M
$22.5K฿758.1K
20.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.1Rp 1.3M
$70.7฿2,378
2.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 77.6K
$14.04฿472
-69.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.43Rp 348.5K
$17.49฿589
11.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.52Rp 278.5K
$42.15฿1,418
-63.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.09Rp 55.4K
$6.88฿231
-55.09%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70Rp 48.5K
$5.92฿199
-54.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$309฿10.4K
-76.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,410Rp 79.1M
$14.9K฿500.7K
-70.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.43Rp 599.8K
$55.8฿1,876
-40.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.34Rp 544.3K
$26.11฿879
16.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.5Rp 1.4M
$83.0฿2,793
-6.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$70.5฿2,371
16.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194Rp 3.5M
$432฿14.5K
-55.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172Rp 3.1M
$239฿8,040
-28.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$822฿27.7K
-7.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392Rp 7.0M
$512฿17.2K
-23.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,642Rp 29.5M
$1,915฿64.4K
-14.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$216Rp 3.9M
$1,467฿49.4K
-85.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$212Rp 3.8M
$579฿19.5K
-63.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
5
66.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yogyakarta: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Yogyakarta 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 174% 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 $9.00 in Yogyakarta versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $243 – making Yogyakarta 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
Yogyakarta vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yogyakarta or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Yogyakarta, 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 Yogyakarta and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $960 per month in Yogyakarta and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Yogyakarta or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yogyakarta, 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 Yogyakarta and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $72.4 per month in Yogyakarta and $309 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 Yogyakarta or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 Yogyakarta or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $640 in Yogyakarta and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Yogyakarta or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yogyakarta costs $640 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Yogyakarta. 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.
Yogyakarta vs other spots: cost of living compared