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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,060 per month in Castro vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,641 per month in Castro vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,222 per month in Castro vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Castro costs about 25% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Castro and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Castro 21% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.84 CLP 7,830

$1.96 ฿63.6

351.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.05 CLP 39.0K

$18.39 ฿598

139.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.08 CLP 7,161

$7.87 ฿256

2.67%

Cappuccino

$2.76 CLP 2,445

$1.95 ฿63.4

41.54%

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

$1.34 CLP 1,187

$0.85 ฿27.57

57.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 937

$0.32 ฿10.52

231.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 CLP 2,919

$2.14 ฿69.6

54.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 CLP 3,732

$3.68 ฿120

14.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 CLP 1,004

$1.66 ฿53.9

-31.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 CLP 1,293

$1.56 ฿50.7

-6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,180

$1.19 ฿38.63

11.76%

Eggs

$4.30 CLP 3,805

$1.99 ฿64.7

116.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 CLP 9,082

$16.24 ฿528

-36.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 CLP 3,907

$3.17 ฿103

39.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.01 CLP 7,981

$10.84 ฿352

-16.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,328

$2.65 ฿86.2

-43.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 CLP 2,157

$1.22 ฿39.67

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,457

$1.65 ฿53.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 CLP 1,790

$1.55 ฿50.3

30.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,098

$1.33 ฿43.17

-6.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,194

$1.21 ฿39.43

11.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,082

$0.68 ฿22.04

79.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,052

$0.57 ฿18.38

108.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.50 CLP 4,871

$4.68 ฿152

17.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 CLP 7,591

$16.99 ฿552

-49.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,361

$1.82 ฿59.3

-15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 CLP 2,036

$3.18 ฿103

-27.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 CLP 625

$0.91 ฿29.46

-21.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 446

$1.41 ฿45.80

-64.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,220

$1.28 ฿41.53

7.81%

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

$19.5K CLP 17.3M

$21.8K ฿709.3K

-10.55%

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

$21.7K CLP 19.2M

$22.4K ฿728.0K

-3.21%

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

$132 CLP 117.3K

$70.5 ฿2,291

87.85%

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

$13.47 CLP 11.9K

$14.05 ฿457

-4.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.64 CLP 19.2K

$17.65 ฿574

22.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.89 CLP 34.5K

$41.29 ฿1,342

-5.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 CLP 19.2K

$6.76 ฿220

220.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.71 CLP 5,062

$5.96 ฿194

-4.19%

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

$444 CLP 393.3K

$303 ฿9,846

46.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.88 CLP 44.2K

$54.7 ฿1,778

-8.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.05 CLP 26.6K

$26.29 ฿854

14.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 CLP 55.1K

$85.8 ฿2,788

-27.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.3 CLP 72.0K

$69.7 ฿2,265

16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 CLP 422.0K

$428 ฿13.9K

11.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 CLP 330.0K

$239 ฿7,769

55.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 CLP 798.7K

$811 ฿26.4K

11.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 CLP 549.9K

$510 ฿16.6K

21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 CLP 596.2K

$623 ฿20.2K

8.12%

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 Castro: June 15, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Castro versus $428 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.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Castro, 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 $44.00 in Castro versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Castro vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Castro 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

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

Castro costs about 25% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,589 per month in Castro and $1,272 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,060 in Castro and $848 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $444 per month in Castro and $303 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 $848, than in Castro at $1,060. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,060 in Castro. 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, Castro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.