🙂A single person spends $812 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,389 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,966 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Bahia de Caraquez is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bahia de Caraquez and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bahia de Caraquez41% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11$4.11
$2.08฿69.5
97.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.59$49.59
$19.61฿655
152.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68$9.68
$5.67฿189
70.72%
Cappuccino
$2.83$2.83
$1.81฿60.3
56.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84$0.84
$0.77฿25.65
9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68$0.68
$0.35฿11.53
94.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.06$3.06
$2.21฿73.9
38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34$4.34
$3.79฿127
14.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16$1.16
$2.05฿68.4
-43.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95$1.95
$1.51฿50.6
29.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43$1.43
$1.40฿46.69
2.14%
Eggs
$2.04$2.04
$2.26฿75.4
-9.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.89$6.89
$16.19฿540
-57.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.19$5.19
$2.90฿96.7
78.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36$9.36
$9.42฿314
-0.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52$1.52
$2.68฿89.4
-43.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14$1.14
$1.09฿36.37
4.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03$1.03
$1.62฿54.0
-36.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97$0.97
$1.46฿48.74
-33.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23$1.23
$1.28฿42.65
-3.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96$0.96
$1.06฿35.31
-9.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81$0.81
$0.72฿23.94
12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94$0.94
$0.53฿17.56
77.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85$5.85
$4.23฿141
38.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.10$12.10
$18.29฿611
-33.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50$1.50
$1.63฿54.4
-7.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$2.90฿96.8
-27.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38$0.38
$0.88฿29.32
-56.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.62$18.62
$53.8฿1,795
-65.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36$1.36
$1.17฿39.14
16.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71$1.71
$0.58฿19.30
194.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.08$12.08
$2.39฿79.6
405.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.45฿48.41
-42.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K$20.8K
$21.0K฿701.4K
-0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K$31.8K
$26.4K฿882.0K
20.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.55$36.55
$63.7฿2,125
-42.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14$15.14
$12.89฿430
17.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.75$25.75
$20.52฿685
25.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.52$28.52
$39.02฿1,302
-26.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16$17.16
$3.92฿131
337.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.42$7.42
$6.58฿220
12.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407$407
$784฿26.2K
-48.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,019$6,019
$14.7K฿489.8K
-58.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4$66.4
$55.1฿1,840
20.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.80$39.80
$24.74฿826
60.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127$127
$94.1฿3,142
35.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.1$94.1
$74.0฿2,469
27.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259$259
$490฿16.4K
-47.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190$190
$288฿9,620
-34.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$610$610
$891฿29.8K
-31.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$411$411
$521฿17.4K
-21.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,276$1,276
$1,974฿65.9K
-35.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$705$705
$1,444฿48.2K
-51.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahia de Caraquez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.05
5.57
80.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $490 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Bahia de Caraquez vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Bahia de Caraquez wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Bahia de Caraquez vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bahia de Caraquez and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $812 in Bahia de Caraquez, $932 in Chiang Mai – roughly 15% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bahia de Caraquez compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,218 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bahia de Caraquez and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bahia de Caraquez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bahia de Caraquez and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $407 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 21% 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 is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahia de Caraquez, where all-in costs run around $812, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Bahia de Caraquez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bahia de Caraquez and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Bahia de Caraquez has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $812 in Bahia de Caraquez to $932 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bahia de Caraquez or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bahia de Caraquez and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Bahia de Caraquez. 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.
Bahia de Caraquez vs other spots: cost of living compared