😐A single person spends $1,310 per month in Cabo Rojo vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,946 per month in Cabo Rojo vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,581 per month in Cabo Rojo vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Cabo Rojo costs about 51% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Cabo Rojo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cabo Rojo3% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15$10.15
$1.98฿64.3
412.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9$81.9
$18.80฿612
335.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.20$9.20
$7.75฿252
18.71%
Cappuccino
$3.52$3.52
$1.92฿62.5
83.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$0.79฿25.79
122.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43$1.43
$0.36฿11.62
297.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46$1.46
$2.21฿72.1
-33.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48$3.48
$3.66฿119
-4.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40$1.40
$1.65฿53.8
-15.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91$1.91
$1.63฿53.2
17.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17$2.17
$1.19฿38.86
82.35%
Eggs
$2.34$2.34
$2.00฿65.1
17.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.08$9.08
$15.98฿520
-43.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.51$8.51
$3.03฿98.5
180.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.68$12.68
$10.86฿354
16.76%
Apples(1kg)
$5.75$5.75
$2.76฿90.0
108.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66$2.66
$1.18฿38.42
125.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00$4.00
$1.64฿53.5
143.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$1.52฿49.51
171.71%
Potato(1kg)
$3.95$3.95
$1.38฿45.10
186.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.97$2.97
$1.19฿38.84
149.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.13$3.13
$0.70฿22.86
347.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$0.56฿18.13
82.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.17$12.17
$4.58฿149
165.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.67$15.67
$16.56฿539
-5.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$1.83฿59.5
-19.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$3.20฿104
-35.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿28.56
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.36฿44.16
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51$1.51
$1.34฿43.65
12.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.96$14.96
$7.84฿256
90.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75$0.75
$1.23฿39.92
-39.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K$35.7K
$21.6K฿704.3K
65.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K$26.7K
$22.5K฿734.3K
18.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$480$480
$70.5฿2,298
580.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.9$63.9
$13.68฿445
367.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6$73.6
$17.45฿568
321.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.11$12.11
$5.77฿188
109.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$472$472
$307฿10.0K
53.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K$10.4K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-28.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98$45.98
$55.8฿1,817
-17.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.8$56.8
$26.21฿854
116.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9$91.9
$85.8฿2,793
7.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108$108
$72.2฿2,353
49.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,823$1,823
$817฿26.6K
123.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabo Rojo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,210$4,210
$619฿20.2K
580.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
5
14.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cabo Rojo: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 580% 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 $82.0 in Cabo Rojo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 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
Which city is more expensive, Cabo Rojo or Chiang Mai?
Cabo Rojo costs about 51% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cabo Rojo vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,965 per month in Cabo Rojo and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Cabo Rojo compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,310 in Cabo Rojo and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Cabo Rojo and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $472 per month in Cabo Rojo and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Cabo Rojo or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,310 in Cabo Rojo and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cabo Rojo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,310 in Cabo Rojo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cabo Rojo compared to 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.
Should I move to Cabo Rojo or Chiang Mai?
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.