🙂A single person spends $457 per month in Anaco vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $725 per month in Anaco vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $993 per month in Anaco vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Anaco is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Anaco and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Anaco66% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.19VES 6,795
$1.94฿63.5
528.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.64฿609
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.82฿255
-
Cappuccino
$0.82VES 459
$1.95฿63.8
-57.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19VES 665
$0.85฿27.77
40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58VES 321
$0.35฿11.58
65.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.91VES 507
$2.13฿69.6
-57.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74VES 968
$1.71฿56.0
1.75%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.63฿53.2
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13VES 628
$1.14฿37.15
-0.88%
Eggs
-
$1.93฿63.1
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.59VES 1,998
$16.21฿530
-77.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.12฿102
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.04VES 4,481
$10.90฿356
-26.24%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.75฿90.0
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.21฿39.52
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.62฿53.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50VES 838
$1.59฿51.8
-5.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57VES 872
$1.40฿45.70
12.14%
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.17฿38.17
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.66฿21.60
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01VES 565
$0.53฿17.22
90.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.69฿153
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.66฿609
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23VES 688
$1.80฿58.8
-31.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58VES 879
$3.23฿106
-51.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31VES 174
$0.90฿29.26
-65.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93VES 1,631
$1.41฿45.91
107.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.29฿42.12
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.51VES 285
$1.27฿41.58
-59.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.3K฿694.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.2K฿725.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$69.1฿2,256
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.08฿460
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.93VES 21.1K
$18.00฿588
110.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.57VES 24.8K
$41.06฿1,341
8.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.12VES 6,755
$6.96฿227
74.14%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90VES 3,290
$5.92฿193
-0.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.45VES 24.8K
$299฿9,766
-85.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.0K฿488.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.83VES 25.0K
$54.7฿1,787
-18.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.96VES 21.2K
$26.77฿874
41.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.71VES 24.9K
$85.0฿2,776
-47.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.65VES 22.1K
$70.6฿2,306
-43.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$110VES 61.1K
$428฿14.0K
-74.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$68.8VES 38.3K
$237฿7,752
-71.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$253VES 141.1K
$801฿26.2K
-68.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178VES 99.3K
$515฿16.8K
-65.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$236VES 131.4K
$1,975฿64.5K
-88.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$172VES 96.0K
$1,475฿48.2K
-88.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anaco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Anaco: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $110 in Anaco versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
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
Anaco vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Anaco?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 89%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $686 per month in Anaco and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Anaco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Anaco and Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 172% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $44.45 per month in Anaco and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Anaco or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $457 in Anaco and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Anaco or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Anaco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Anaco or Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Anaco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.