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: $891 in Aguadulce versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Aguadulce versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,961 in Aguadulce versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Aguadulce is roughly 3% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Aguadulce 33% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.90 PAB 9.90

$1.94 ฿63.5

410.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.87 PAB 49.87

$18.64 ฿609

167.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 PAB 8.03

$7.82 ฿255

2.69%

Cappuccino

$3.53 PAB 3.53

$1.95 ฿63.8

81.03%

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

$1.68 PAB 1.68

$0.85 ฿27.77

97.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 PAB 1.39

$0.35 ฿11.58

297.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

$2.13 ฿69.6

43.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$3.73 ฿122

8.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.71 ฿56.0

8.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$1.63 ฿53.2

52.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$1.14 ฿37.15

117.54%

Eggs

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$1.93 ฿63.1

48.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 PAB 11.36

$16.21 ฿530

-29.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.17 PAB 7.17

$3.12 ฿102

129.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.86 PAB 9.86

$10.90 ฿356

-9.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 PAB 3.41

$2.75 ฿90.0

24.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$1.21 ฿39.52

21.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$1.62 ฿53.0

75.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 PAB 3.22

$1.59 ฿51.8

102.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$1.40 ฿45.70

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 PAB 2.79

$1.17 ฿38.17

138.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$0.66 ฿21.60

236.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$0.53 ฿17.22

184.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.05 PAB 6.05

$4.69 ฿153

29.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.84 PAB 10.84

$18.66 ฿609

-41.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PAB 1.23

$1.80 ฿58.8

-31.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PAB 2.42

$3.23 ฿106

-25.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 PAB 0.24

$0.90 ฿29.26

-73.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 PAB 2.47

$1.41 ฿45.91

75.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.29 ฿42.12

39.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.10 PAB 22.10

$7.84 ฿256

181.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PAB 0.89

$1.27 ฿41.58

-29.92%

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

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-7.32%

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-7.28%

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

$125 PAB 125

$69.1 ฿2,256

81.25%

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

$29.48 PAB 29.48

$14.08 ฿460

109.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.11 PAB 49.11

$18.00 ฿588

172.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.06 PAB 47.06

$41.06 ฿1,341

14.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$5.92 ฿193

31.76%

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

$482 PAB 482

$299 ฿9,766

61.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K PAB 15.5K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

3.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 PAB 51.5

$54.7 ฿1,787

-5.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.21 PAB 45.21

$26.77 ฿874

68.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 PAB 89.2

$85.0 ฿2,776

5.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 PAB 119

$70.6 ฿2,306

68.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $50.0 in Aguadulce vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $246 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 3% 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 $1,337 in Aguadulce and $1,300 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 18% higher in Aguadulce. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $891 per month in Aguadulce versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 3% 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 $866 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 3% less than in Aguadulce. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.