Cost of Living Comparison Between Yogyakarta and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Yogyakarta and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $683 per month in Yogyakarta vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $944 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,206 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Yogyakarta is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yogyakarta and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Yogyakarta 50% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$2.08 ฿68.6
-46.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.68 Rp 241.9K
$19.64 ฿646
-30.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.43 Rp 60.7K
$5.65 ฿186
-39.29%
Cappuccino
$1.28 Rp 22.6K
$1.81 ฿59.4
-29.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,619
$0.71 ฿23.45
-47.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 Rp 4,060
$0.32 ฿10.38
-28.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 Rp 44.7K
$2.24 ฿73.6
12.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 Rp 63.7K
$3.63 ฿119
-0.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 Rp 22.0K
$1.96 ฿64.4
-36.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 Rp 19.2K
$1.50 ฿49.39
-27.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$1.34 ฿43.93
-41.79%
Eggs
$1.32 Rp 23.3K
$2.26 ฿74.5
-41.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.71 Rp 100.9K
$16.26 ฿535
-64.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 Rp 54.3K
$2.95 ฿97.1
4.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.68 Rp 100.4K
$9.94 ฿327
-42.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 48.4K
$2.57 ฿84.6
6.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 Rp 22.4K
$1.06 ฿34.73
18.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 20.9K
$1.61 ฿53.0
-26.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.95 Rp 16.8K
$1.52 ฿49.97
-37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 Rp 19.0K
$1.27 ฿41.77
-15.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 Rp 36.2K
$1.07 ฿35.06
91.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 Rp 7,183
$0.72 ฿23.68
-43.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,535
$0.51 ฿16.72
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 Rp 49.4K
$4.19 ฿138
-33.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.08 Rp 355.1K
$17.87 ฿587
12.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
$1.69 ฿55.7
33.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 Rp 66.6K
$2.84 ฿93.3
32.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 Rp 3,587
$0.93 ฿30.43
-78.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.95 Rp 158.3K
$53.9 ฿1,771
-83.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 Rp 25.5K
$1.23 ฿40.59
17.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 Rp 6,889
$0.58 ฿18.96
-32.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 Rp 81.2K
$2.42 ฿79.7
89.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
$1.41 ฿46.43
-48.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8K Rp 279.4M
$21.4K ฿705.1K
-26.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K Rp 485.6M
$27.3K ฿898.7K
0.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.7 Rp 1.2M
$63.7 ฿2,093
6.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.76 Rp 84.2K
$12.85 ฿423
-62.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.46 Rp 361.9K
$20.22 ฿665
1.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.43 Rp 697.2K
$38.74 ฿1,274
1.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97 ฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.53 Rp 44.7K
$6.74 ฿222
-62.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$86.3 Rp 1.5M
$778 ฿25.6K
-88.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,149 Rp 73.4M
$14.6K ฿480.4K
-71.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 Rp 968.2K
$54.3 ฿1,785
0.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.80 Rp 580.1K
$25.45 ฿837
28.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 Rp 1.5M
$94.3 ฿3,102
-8.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 Rp 1.7M
$73.4 ฿2,415
27.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$218 Rp 3.9M
$490 ฿16.1K
-55.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 Rp 2.8M
$289 ฿9,512
-44.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$590 Rp 10.4M
$894 ฿29.4K
-34.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 Rp 2.4M
$517 ฿17.0K
-74.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,688 Rp 29.8M
$1,955 ฿64.3K
-13.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$227 Rp 4.0M
$1,477 ฿48.6K
-84.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yogyakarta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$228 Rp 4.0M
$602 ฿19.8K
-62.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.45
5.57
51.71%

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

Last update for Yogyakarta: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Yogyakarta versus $490 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 164% 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 $14.00 in Yogyakarta versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $240 – 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 39% 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 $1,024 per month in Yogyakarta and $1,421 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 $86.3 per month in Yogyakarta and $778 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 30% 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 $1,500/month in Yogyakarta or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yogyakarta, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Yogyakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Yogyakarta or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yogyakarta costs $683 versus $947 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.

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