✦ Compare
Bali vs
Chiang Mai
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in Chiang Mai, TH, you'd need
$79,002 / year
Chiang Mai, TH is 5% more expensive overall
Category breakdown (Chiang Mai, TH vs Bali, ID)
- Housing+5%
- Food & groceries0%
- Transport+9%
- Utilities+18%
- Healthcare+22%
- Goods & services0%
▤ Full comparison
| Bali, ID | Chiang Mai, TH | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 46 | 49 |
| Housing | 40 | 42 |
| Food | 45 | 45 |
| Transport | 35 | 38 |
| Utilities | 55 | 65 |
| Healthcare | 45 | 55 |
| Goods & services | 55 | 55 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $600/mo | $450/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $350/mo | $300/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,200/mo | $900/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $2,169 | $2,059 |
| Inexpensive meal | $3 | $3 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 35% | 35% |
| VAT / sales tax | 11% | 7% |
| Corporate tax | 22% | 20% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $300/mo | $800/mo |
| Minimum wage | $200/mo | $300/mo |
| GDP per capita | $4,981 | $8,057 |
| Inflation (annual) | 2.8% | -0.1% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Moderate | Moderate |
| Coworking spaces | 40 | 50 |
| Time zone | UTC+8 | UTC+7 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 60 | 65 |
| Healthcare index | 55 | 70 |
| Pollution index | 55 | 70 |
| Internet speed | 25 Mbps | 200 Mbps |
| Walkability | 35 | 45 |
| Public transport | 20 | 30 |
| Family-friendly | 60 | 62 |
| Tap water | Use caution | Use caution |
| Life expectancy | 71 yr | 77 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Low | Moderate |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +27 °C | +22 °C |
| July avg | +27 °C | +28 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 240 | 240 |
| Rainfall / year | 1,700 mm | 1,150 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 2 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Indonesia vs Thailand. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Bali to Chiang Mai: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Bali to Chiang Mai, your cost of living will be roughly 5% more expensive. Chiang Mai’s cost-of-living index is 49 versus 46 for Bali (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Bali cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is about 5% more expensive than Bali overall — its cost-of-living index is 49 versus 46 for Bali.
How much do you need to earn in Chiang Mai to live like in Bali?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Bali is worth about $79,002 in Chiang Mai. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Bali or Chiang Mai?
Indonesia has the lower top income-tax rate — 35% versus 35% in Thailand.
◷ More comparisons from Bali
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.