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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,597 in Acosta versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,404 in Acosta versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,211 in Acosta versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Acosta is roughly 85% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Acosta is 20% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.23 ₡4,575

$1.96 ฿65.8

421.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 ₡22.8K

$18.35 ฿617

177.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 ₡4,527

$7.48 ฿252

35.29%

Cappuccino

$3.73 ₡1,670

$2.02 ฿67.8

84.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₡919

$0.85 ฿28.50

142.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡732

$0.36 ฿11.96

355.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₡1,300

$2.14 ฿71.8

35.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 ₡2,133

$3.59 ฿121

32.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡873

$1.65 ฿55.5

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,293

$1.57 ฿52.7

84.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡989

$1.19 ฿40.02

85.71%

Eggs

$2.90 ₡1,299

$1.94 ฿65.1

49.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 ₡4,580

$16.19 ฿544

-36.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 ₡4,185

$2.99 ฿101

213.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,028

$10.94 ฿368

23.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 ₡2,027

$2.71 ฿91.2

67.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡643

$1.17 ฿39.25

23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 ₡1,925

$1.69 ฿56.7

154.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.31 ₡1,481

$1.60 ฿54.0

106.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,489

$1.38 ฿46.54

141.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 ₡1,323

$1.20 ฿40.45

146.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ₡438

$0.67 ฿22.50

46.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,320

$0.56 ฿18.73

426.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,202

$4.64 ฿156

6.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 ₡7,348

$17.62 ฿593

-6.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₡1,064

$1.86 ฿62.5

27.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,131

$3.30 ฿111

-23.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡424

$0.88 ฿29.68

7.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.84 ₡11.1K

$19.34 ฿650

28.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡836

$1.36 ฿45.90

37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡793

$1.34 ฿44.98

32.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 ₡3,588

$8.21 ฿276

-2.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡629

$1.22 ฿41.18

15.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.8K ₡16.9M

$21.4K ฿718.1K

77.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K ₡14.8M

$22.5K ฿757.7K

46.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$94.3 ₡42.2K

$70.7 ฿2,376

33.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.30 ₡11.8K

$14.04 ฿472

87.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 ₡23.5K

$17.49 ฿588

200.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡25.6K

$42.15 ฿1,417

35.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.75 ₡10.6K

$6.88 ฿231

245.20%

Cinema Ticket

$10.12 ₡4,529

$5.92 ฿199

70.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$526 ₡235.2K

$309 ฿10.4K

70.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-15.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 ₡28.0K

$55.8 ฿1,875

12.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 ₡23.4K

$26.11 ฿878

100.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡55.3K

$83.0 ฿2,792

48.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡48.2K

$70.5 ฿2,369

52.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₡343.2K

$432 ฿14.5K

77.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₡270.5K

$239 ฿8,035

153.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,508 ₡674.7K

$822 ฿27.7K

83.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 ₡438.8K

$512 ฿17.2K

91.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,940 ₡867.8K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

1.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,476 ₡660.2K

$579 ฿19.5K

154.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

103.40%

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

Last update for Acosta: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $767 in Acosta and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acosta pays 155% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Acosta vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $357 vs $243 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

Acosta vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Acosta and Chiang Mai differ by about 85% in total monthly costs ($1,597 vs $861 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 155% higher in Acosta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $767 in Acosta versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Acosta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $51.0 in Acosta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,597 in Acosta, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Acosta. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Acosta and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Acosta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.