🇮🇩 Denpasar vs 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Chiang Mai is 33% cheaper than Denpasar
Quick answer
Comparing Denpasar, Indonesia and Chiang Mai, Thailand: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,000 in Denpasar versus $673 in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is roughly 33% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $350/mo (Denpasar) vs $315/mo (Chiang Mai). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,000/mo in Denpasar single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $673/mo in Chiang Mai single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $350/mo in Denpasar · $315/mo in Chiang Mai.
- Cheaper overall: Chiang Mai ~33% cheaper than Denpasar.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $700/mo | $450/mo | -36% |
| Moderate | $1,000/mo | $673/mo | -33% |
| Comfortable | $1,500/mo | $1,000/mo | -33% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $350/mo | $315/mo | -10% |
| Groceries & Food | $200/mo | $110/mo | -45% |
| Dining Out | $100/mo | $55/mo | -45% |
| Transport | $100/mo | $55/mo | -45% |
| Utilities & Internet | $100/mo | $55/mo | -45% |
| Healthcare | $80/mo | $44/mo | -45% |
| Leisure & Personal | $70/mo | $39/mo | -44% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Denpasar
$350
Chiang Mai
$315
Groceries & Food
Denpasar
$200
Chiang Mai
$110
Dining Out
Denpasar
$100
Chiang Mai
$55
Transport
Denpasar
$100
Chiang Mai
$55
Utilities & Internet
Denpasar
$100
Chiang Mai
$55
Healthcare
Denpasar
$80
Chiang Mai
$44
Leisure & Personal
Denpasar
$70
Chiang Mai
$39
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: BPS (Indonesia), World Bank / NSO (Thailand), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | 0% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $2 | $2 | 0% |
| Eggs (12) | $1 | $2 | +14% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $3 | $3 | -3% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | +29% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasi goreng (warung) | $1 | $1 | +8% |
| Fast food combo meal | $5 | $20 | +344% |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $5 | +80% |
| Beer (Bintang, restaurant) | $3 | $2 | -28% |
Housing
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom villa/apartment, center | $500 | $315 | -37% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $300 | $267 | -11% |
| 3-bedroom villa, center | $1,200 | $650 | -46% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $650 | $400 | -38% |
Transport
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scooter rental (monthly) | $55 | $20 | -64% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $85 | +12977% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $55 | $70 | +27% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $25 | $18 | -28% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $28 | -7% |
| Yoga class | $6 | $5 | -30% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $3 | $4 | +31% |
Quick Facts
🇮🇩 Denpasar
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,000
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $350/mo
- Safety index
- 63/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 58/100
- Country
- Indonesia
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $673
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $315/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $2.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $25
- Internet speed
- 150 Mbps
- Safety index
- 72/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 75/100
- Country
- Thailand
Explore more: Denpasar city guide | Chiang Mai city guide | Indonesia | Thailand
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denpasar or Chiang Mai cheaper to live in?
Chiang Mai is approximately 33% cheaper than Denpasar overall.
How much does it cost to live in Denpasar per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Denpasar is approximately $1,000 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Chiang Mai is approximately $673 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Denpasar and Chiang Mai?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $350/month in Denpasar and $315/month in Chiang Mai.