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

😐 Solo nomad: Cartago is 62.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 74.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cartago is 50.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 46.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8 β‚‘4,006
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
296.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.92 β‚‘16K
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
69.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.07 β‚‘4,540
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
18.25%
Cappuccino
$3.85 β‚‘1,929
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
94.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 β‚‘1,020
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
148.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 β‚‘613
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
269.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 β‚‘1,021
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
-3.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 β‚‘2,345
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
25.47%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 β‚‘989
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
20.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.2 β‚‘1,103
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
40.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.2 β‚‘1,103
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
84.87%
Eggs
$2.87 β‚‘1,439
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
44.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.06 β‚‘4,037
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
-49.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.9 β‚‘4,456
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
185.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.87 β‚‘6,946
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
24.28%
Apples (1kg)
$4.4 β‚‘2,205
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
59.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 β‚‘585
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
-4.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 β‚‘1,970
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
129.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.7 β‚‘1,352
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
74.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 β‚‘989
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
47.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 β‚‘968
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
59.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 β‚‘486
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
34.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 β‚‘1,017
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
283.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.37 β‚‘2,688
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
13.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.79 β‚‘6,901
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
-25.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.4 β‚‘1,203
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
34.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 β‚‘878
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
-45.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 β‚‘531
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
12.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69 β‚‘34.5K
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
264.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 β‚‘677
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
-4.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 β‚‘886
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
31.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.7 β‚‘3,855
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
-1.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 β‚‘695
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
11.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K β‚‘18.6M
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
75.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K β‚‘16.6M
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
51.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.99 β‚‘24.5K
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
-30.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.87 β‚‘12.9K
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
88.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 β‚‘28.2K
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
220.50%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 β‚‘28.9K
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
38.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.16 β‚‘12.1K
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
250.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38 β‚‘3,192
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
10.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 β‚‘245.4K
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
59.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,079 β‚‘3.5M
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
-51.85%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 β‚‘30.9K
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
11.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 β‚‘26.1K
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
97.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 β‚‘54K
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
26.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5 β‚‘39.8K
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
10.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$776 β‚‘388.3K
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
78.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 β‚‘303.4K
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
157.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$734 β‚‘367.6K
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
-10.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$753 β‚‘377.1K
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
51.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,613 β‚‘807.4K
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
129.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
5
100.00%

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

Last update for Cartago: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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