Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,083 in Calama versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,617 in Calama versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Calama versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Calama is roughly 26% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 19% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 CLP 7,591

$1.96 ฿65.9

315.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 CLP 31.0K

$18.35 ฿617

81.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 CLP 7,356

$7.48 ฿252

5.61%

Cappuccino

$2.11 CLP 1,963

$2.02 ฿67.8

4.46%

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

$0.98 CLP 914

$0.85 ฿28.52

15.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 CLP 865

$0.36 ฿11.97

158.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,067

$2.14 ฿71.9

53.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,862

$3.59 ฿121

15.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,148

$1.65 ฿55.5

-25.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,419

$1.57 ฿52.7

-3.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,756

$1.19 ฿40.05

58.82%

Eggs

$3.51 CLP 3,267

$1.94 ฿65.1

80.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.63 CLP 9,897

$16.19 ฿545

-34.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 CLP 6,083

$2.99 ฿101

118.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 CLP 10.3K

$10.94 ฿368

1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,766

$2.71 ฿91.2

-29.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,404

$1.17 ฿39.27

29.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,419

$1.69 ฿56.8

-10.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,348

$1.60 ฿54.0

-9.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,153

$1.38 ฿46.56

-10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,297

$1.20 ฿40.47

15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,141

$0.67 ฿22.51

82.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,091

$0.56 ฿18.74

108.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 CLP 4,921

$4.64 ฿156

13.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 CLP 5,512

$17.62 ฿593

-66.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,487

$1.86 ฿62.6

-13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CLP 2,071

$3.30 ฿111

-32.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 548

$0.88 ฿29.70

-32.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 471

$1.36 ฿45.92

-62.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CLP 1,420

$1.34 ฿45.00

14.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 CLP 1,438

$1.22 ฿41.20

26.23%

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

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

$21.4K ฿718.5K

-8.04%

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

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

$22.5K ฿758.1K

-3.65%

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

$131 CLP 121.7K

$70.7 ฿2,378

84.89%

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

$13.71 CLP 12.8K

$14.04 ฿472

-2.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.29 CLP 20.8K

$17.49 ฿589

27.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 CLP 35.8K

$42.15 ฿1,418

-8.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

$6.88 ฿231

213.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.70 CLP 5,309

$5.92 ฿199

-3.72%

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

$432 CLP 402.4K

$309 ฿10.4K

40.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$55.8 ฿1,876

-9.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.49 CLP 28.4K

$26.11 ฿879

16.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.8 CLP 58.5K

$83.0 ฿2,793

-24.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.9 CLP 77.1K

$70.5 ฿2,371

17.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 CLP 327.5K

$432 ฿14.5K

-18.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 CLP 351.8K

$239 ฿8,040

58.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 CLP 788.6K

$822 ฿27.7K

3.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 CLP 549.4K

$512 ฿17.2K

15.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,467 CLP 1.4M

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-23.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,276 CLP 1.2M

$1,467 ฿49.4K

-13.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 CLP 1.1M

$579 ฿19.5K

100.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

3.60%

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

Last update for Calama: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $352 in Calama and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 100% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Calama vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $243, with Calama cheaper for home cooking.

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

Calama vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 100% higher in Calama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $352 in Calama versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,083 per month in Calama versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 26% 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 $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Calama 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 26% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.