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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $893 in Aguadulce versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,432 in Aguadulce versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,971 in Aguadulce versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Aguadulce is roughly 4% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Aguadulce 33% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 PAB 10.05

$1.96 ฿65.9

412.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 PAB 50.8

$18.35 ฿617

177.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$7.48 ฿252

4.28%

Cappuccino

$3.64 PAB 3.64

$2.02 ฿67.8

80.20%

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

$1.67 PAB 1.67

$0.85 ฿28.52

96.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$0.36 ฿11.97

288.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 PAB 3.03

$2.14 ฿71.9

41.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 PAB 3.88

$3.59 ฿121

8.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 PAB 1.90

$1.65 ฿55.5

15.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 PAB 2.51

$1.57 ฿52.7

59.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.19 ฿40.05

111.76%

Eggs

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$1.94 ฿65.1

47.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 PAB 11.55

$16.19 ฿545

-28.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.99 PAB 6.99

$2.99 ฿101

133.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 PAB 10.06

$10.94 ฿368

-8.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 PAB 3.30

$2.71 ฿91.2

21.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 PAB 1.49

$1.17 ฿39.27

27.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$1.69 ฿56.8

69.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 PAB 3.22

$1.60 ฿54.0

101.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

$1.38 ฿46.56

63.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 PAB 2.79

$1.20 ฿40.47

132.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

$0.67 ฿22.51

235.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$0.56 ฿18.74

178.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 PAB 5.92

$4.64 ฿156

27.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.76 PAB 10.76

$17.62 ฿593

-38.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.86 ฿62.6

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$3.30 ฿111

-29.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 PAB 0.24

$0.88 ฿29.70

-72.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.36 ฿45.92

85.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$1.34 ฿45.00

32.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.41 PAB 22.41

$8.21 ฿276

172.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$1.22 ฿41.20

-27.87%

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

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

$21.4K ฿718.5K

-7.89%

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

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

$22.5K ฿758.1K

-8.90%

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

$124 PAB 124

$70.7 ฿2,378

75.51%

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

$29.68 PAB 29.68

$14.04 ฿472

111.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.99 PAB 48.99

$17.49 ฿589

180.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.95 PAB 46.95

$42.15 ฿1,418

11.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 PAB 7.77

$5.92 ฿199

31.25%

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

$479 PAB 479

$309 ฿10.4K

55.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K PAB 15.6K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

5.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 PAB 50.8

$55.8 ฿1,876

-8.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.74 PAB 45.74

$26.11 ฿879

75.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 PAB 90.8

$83.0 ฿2,793

9.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 PAB 123

$70.5 ฿2,371

74.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

24.60%

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

Last update for Aguadulce: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Aguadulce vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 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

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

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Aguadulce. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,339 in Aguadulce and $1,292 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Aguadulce. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $893 per month in Aguadulce versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Aguadulce 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 4% less than in Aguadulce. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.