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 $1,091 per month in Castro vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Castro vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,206 per month in Castro vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Castro costs about 28% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Castro and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Castro 19% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.76 CLP 7,850

$1.96 ฿63.6

346.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.24 CLP 39.6K

$18.81 ฿611

135.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 CLP 7,291

$7.92 ฿258

2.78%

Cappuccino

$2.86 CLP 2,560

$1.91 ฿62.2

49.74%

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

$1.37 CLP 1,226

$0.84 ฿27.25

63.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 CLP 907

$0.35 ฿11.44

188.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 CLP 2,921

$2.21 ฿71.7

47.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 CLP 3,725

$3.80 ฿124

9.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 978

$1.64 ฿53.2

-33.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,359

$1.62 ฿52.8

-6.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 CLP 1,229

$1.18 ฿38.40

16.10%

Eggs

$4.42 CLP 3,957

$2.01 ฿65.4

119.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.21 CLP 9,148

$15.89 ฿517

-35.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.25 CLP 3,810

$3.01 ฿98.0

41.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.80 CLP 7,882

$10.77 ฿350

-18.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,333

$2.61 ฿85.0

-42.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 CLP 2,112

$1.22 ฿39.65

93.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,476

$1.70 ฿55.4

-2.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 CLP 1,879

$1.58 ฿51.2

32.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 CLP 1,070

$1.32 ฿42.89

-9.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,250

$1.17 ฿38.01

19.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,089

$0.67 ฿21.85

82.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,100

$0.56 ฿18.21

119.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 CLP 4,848

$4.53 ฿147

19.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 CLP 7,314

$18.20 ฿592

-55.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,396

$1.83 ฿59.6

-14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 2,010

$3.23 ฿105

-30.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 CLP 675

$0.89 ฿28.83

-15.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 420

$1.35 ฿43.95

-65.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,281

$1.27 ฿41.40

12.60%

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

$19.6K CLP 17.6M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

-7.24%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.0M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

-5.59%

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

$131 CLP 117.5K

$70.2 ฿2,281

86.97%

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

$13.28 CLP 11.9K

$13.77 ฿448

-3.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.14 CLP 19.8K

$17.60 ฿572

25.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.85 CLP 34.8K

$41.57 ฿1,352

-6.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.64 CLP 19.4K

$6.60 ฿215

227.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 CLP 5,014

$5.78 ฿188

-3.11%

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

$427 CLP 382.7K

$306 ฿9,953

39.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 CLP 45.7K

$54.4 ฿1,768

-6.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.26 CLP 27.1K

$26.14 ฿850

15.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 CLP 54.9K

$84.5 ฿2,748

-27.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 CLP 73.0K

$69.4 ฿2,257

17.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 CLP 435.8K

$424 ฿13.8K

14.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 331.3K

$238 ฿7,743

55.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$887 CLP 794.8K

$825 ฿26.8K

7.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 CLP 554.7K

$515 ฿16.7K

20.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$676 CLP 605.2K

$635 ฿20.6K

6.37%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Castro versus $424 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 6% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Castro vs $243 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 28% 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 $1,636 per month in Castro and $1,278 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 $1,091 in Castro and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Castro and $306 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 $852, than in Castro at $1,091. 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 $852 versus $1,091 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.