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Chiang Mai vs Lombok cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇩 LombokChiang Mai is 25% cheaper than Lombok
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,341 in Lombok — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $61.5
Per month
$994 vs $1,341
Local meal
฿ 55 vs Rp 29,000
$1.67 vs $1.78
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs Rp 41,000
$1.58 vs $2.52
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafés & drinkssimilar
Transportsimilar
StayChiang Mai 18% cheaper
FunChiang Mai 8% cheaper
- Where Lombok is clearly cheaper: Transit (45%↓), SIM card (17%↓), Entry ticket (17%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Taxi (37%↓), Studio rent (month) (22%↓), Half-day tour (21%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Lombok | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | Rp 29,000$1.78 | Chiang Mai −6% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | Rp 13,000$0.8 | Chiang Mai −5% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | Rp 150,000$9.2 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | Rp 33,000$2.02 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | Rp 41,000$2.52 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | Rp 110,000$6.75 | Chiang Mai −6% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | Rp 4,900$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | Rp 12,000$0.74 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | Rp 41,000$2.52 | Chiang Mai −37% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | Rp 28,000$1.72 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | Rp 8,200$0.5 | Lombok −45% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | Rp 110,000$6.75 | Lombok −7% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | Rp 570,000$35 | Chiang Mai −13% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | Rp 5,700,000$350 | Chiang Mai −22% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | Rp 20,000$1.23 | Lombok −8% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | Rp 98,000$6.01 | Lombok −17% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | Rp 59,000$3.62 | Chiang Mai −8% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | Rp 170,000$10.4 | Chiang Mai −13% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | Rp 560,000$34.4 | Chiang Mai −21% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | Rp 98,000$6.01 | Lombok −17% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Lombok?
Chiang Mai is 25% cheaper than Lombok. Daily budget $53.8 vs $61.5; a month $994 vs $1,341.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Lombok?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Lombok about $1,341 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.