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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,172 in Aguada versus $947 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,225 in Aguada versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,277 in Aguada versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Aguada is roughly 24% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Aguada 15% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.03 $11.03

$2.08 ฿69.2

430.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 $12.12

$5.65 ฿188

114.51%

Cappuccino

$1.94 $1.94

$1.81 ฿59.9

7.18%

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

$1.98 $1.98

$0.71 ฿23.66

178.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.32 ฿10.48

218.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.24 ฿74.2

-32.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.63 ฿121

-15.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.96 ฿65.0

-9.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.50 ฿49.83

68.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.26 ฿75.1

94.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.41 ฿46.84

-40.43%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

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

$260 $260

$63.7 ฿2,112

307.66%

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

$59.2 $59.2

$12.85 ฿426

361.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 $54.5

$38.74 ฿1,285

40.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.16 $6.16

$6.74 ฿223

-8.61%

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

$509 $509

$778 ฿25.8K

-34.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.58 $35.58

$54.3 ฿1,801

-34.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.44 $40.44

$25.45 ฿844

58.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 $81.3

$94.3 ฿3,129

-13.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 $98.6

$73.4 ฿2,436

34.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 $497

$490 ฿16.2K

1.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 $452

$289 ฿9,596

56.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,214 $2,214

$602 ฿20.0K

267.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Aguada: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Aguada and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aguada pays 268% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

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

Aguada and Chiang Mai differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,172 vs $947 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 268% higher in Aguada, 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: $497 in Aguada versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $509 in Aguada versus $778 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,172 per month in Aguada versus $947 in Chiang Mai – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $947 in Chiang Mai versus $1,172 in Aguada, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aguada. 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, Aguada 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 24% less than in Aguada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.