Cost of Living Comparison Between Cabo Rojo and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Cabo Rojo and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,238 per month in Cabo Rojo vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,924 per month in Cabo Rojo vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,611 per month in Cabo Rojo vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cabo Rojo costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cabo Rojo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cabo Rojo 10% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.04 $10.04

$2.08 ฿69.3

382.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.1 $83.1

$19.61 ฿653

323.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 $8.78

$5.67 ฿189

54.85%

Cappuccino

$3.78 $3.78

$1.81 ฿60.1

108.84%

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

$1.83 $1.83

$0.77 ฿25.58

137.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.35 ฿11.49

314.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.21 ฿73.7

-31.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.79 ฿126

-5.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.05 ฿68.2

9.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.51 ฿50.4

137.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.40 ฿46.57

68.57%

Eggs

$7.24 $7.24

$2.26 ฿75.2

220.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$16.19 ฿539

-22.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.41 $9.41

$2.90 ฿96.4

224.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 $13.47

$9.42 ฿314

42.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.68 ฿89.2

92.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.09 ฿36.28

132.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$1.62 ฿53.8

205.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$1.46 ฿48.61

224.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.28 ฿42.54

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$1.06 ฿35.21

268.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.38 $3.38

$0.72 ฿23.88

369.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.53 ฿17.51

207.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.79 $11.79

$4.23 ฿141

178.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 $15.41

$18.29 ฿609

-15.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.63 ฿54.3

88.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.90 ฿96.6

34.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.17 ฿39.04

109.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.58 ฿19.25

151.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.35 $42.35

$2.39 ฿79.4

1671.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.45 ฿48.28

-49.66%

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

$40.6K $40.6K

$21.0K ฿699.5K

93.31%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$26.4K ฿879.7K

7.63%

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

$318 $318

$63.7 ฿2,119

399.20%

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

$64.0 $64.0

$12.89 ฿429

396.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 $69.6

$20.52 ฿683

239.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$10.43 $10.43

$6.58 ฿219

58.51%

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

$808 $808

$784 ฿26.1K

3.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-13.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$55.1 ฿1,835

2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 $61.5

$24.74 ฿824

148.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$94.1 ฿3,133

13.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$74.0 ฿2,462

54.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,297 $4,297

$602 ฿20.0K

614.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

5.57

17.59%

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

Last update for Cabo Rojo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 614% higher in Cabo Rojo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Cabo Rojo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $412 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Cabo Rojo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cabo Rojo costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,857 per month in Cabo Rojo and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,238 in Cabo Rojo and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $808 per month in Cabo Rojo and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Cabo Rojo at $1,238. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cabo Rojo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,238 in Cabo Rojo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cabo Rojo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.