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Chiang Mai vs Bali

Chiang Mai runs about 42% cheaper than Bali for this household, a difference of 395 USD a month.

View of Chiang Mai City, taken from the top of Doi Suthep Mountain. Image extracted (crop) from Supanut Arunoprayote's original panoramic file. Extracted and edited (crop) under the Creative Commons A
Chiang Mai
$948/month · Thailand
Supanut Arunoprayote · CC BY 4.0
A Beautiful View of Kelingking Beach at Nusa penida
Bali
$1,344/month · Indonesia
Dini Rosyadah Tridya · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chiang Mai monthly
$948
Index 15 (NYC = 100)
Bali monthly
$1,344
Index 21 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+42%
Bali relative to Chiang Mai
Rent gap
$320
Bali costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

Chiang MaiBali
  • Housing
    Housing: Chiang Mai $380, Bali $700. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Food
    Food: Chiang Mai $300, Bali $344. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chiang Mai $35, Bali $44. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chiang Mai $91, Bali $85. Cheaper in Bali.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chiang Mai $14, Bali $14. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chiang Mai $87, Bali $108. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
  • Other
    Other: Chiang Mai $42, Bali $48. Cheaper in Chiang Mai.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricChiang MaiBali
Cost
Total monthly cost948 USD✓1,344 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)15✓21
Housing380 USD✓700 USD
Utilities91 USD85 USD✓
Food300 USD✓344 USD
Transport35 USD✓44 USD
Healthcare14 USD✓14 USD
Lifestyle87 USD✓108 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,510 USD✓5,833 USD
Effective tax + social rate21.9%✓30.0%
Left over each month5,562 USD✓4,489 USD
Average local net salary600 USD✓400 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre380 USD✓700 USD
3-bed rent, city centre850 USD✓1,500 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,000 USD✓2,600 USD
Quality of life
Safety76/100✓66/100
Healthcare64/100✓54/100
Air quality28/10060/100✓
Public transport20/100✓15/100
Walkability52/100✓35/100
English proficiency38/10066/100✓
Nightlife72/10082/100✓
Family friendliness72/100✓68/100
Median broadband180 Mbps✓60 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature26°C✓27°C
Summer high36°C32°C✓
Winter low14°C23°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,600 h2,600 h
Annual rainfall1150 mm✓1700 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach accessNone nearby10 min✓
CurrencyTHBIDR
Time zoneAsia/BangkokAsia/Makassar

Chiang Mai runs about 42% cheaper than Bali for this household, a difference of 395 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in Chiang MaiCost of living in BaliConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Chiang Mai vs Kuala LumpurChiang Mai vs Ho Chi Minh CityChiang Mai vs Bangkok
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Chiang Mai or Bali cheaper?

Chiang Mai runs about 42% cheaper than Bali for this household, a difference of 395 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Bali compared with Chiang Mai?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,510 a month in Chiang Mai and $5,833 in Bali, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Chiang Mai or Bali?

Chiang Mai scores 76/100 on safety and 64/100 on healthcare; Bali scores 66 and 54. Chiang Mai averages 26°C against 27°C in Bali.