🙂A single person spends $582 per month in Catacamas vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $953 per month in Catacamas vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,324 per month in Catacamas vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Catacamas is about 33% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Catacamas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Catacamas57% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.67HNL 151
$1.94฿63.6
192.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.98HNL 1,012
$18.64฿609
103.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.89HNL 210
$7.82฿256
0.90%
Cappuccino
$2.26HNL 60.3
$1.95฿63.9
15.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00HNL 26.72
$0.85฿27.80
17.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12HNL 29.78
$0.35฿11.60
220.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16HNL 31.03
$2.13฿69.7
-45.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65HNL 70.7
$3.73฿122
-28.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45HNL 38.73
$1.71฿56.0
-15.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17HNL 57.7
$1.63฿53.3
33.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23HNL 32.84
$1.14฿37.18
7.89%
Eggs
$2.12HNL 56.3
$1.93฿63.2
9.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.29HNL 168
$16.21฿530
-61.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.68HNL 97.9
$3.12฿102
17.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.14HNL 217
$10.90฿356
-25.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97HNL 79.1
$2.75฿90.1
8.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50HNL 39.94
$1.21฿39.56
23.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52HNL 40.37
$1.62฿53.0
-6.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58HNL 41.98
$1.59฿51.9
-0.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64HNL 43.81
$1.40฿45.75
17.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37HNL 36.46
$1.17฿38.20
17.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88HNL 23.36
$0.66฿21.62
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63HNL 43.49
$0.53฿17.24
207.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53HNL 67.4
$4.69฿153
-46.06%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.66฿610
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29HNL 34.30
$1.80฿58.8
-28.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87HNL 49.72
$3.23฿106
-42.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20HNL 112
$1.41฿45.96
197.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.29฿42.16
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06HNL 28.33
$1.27฿41.62
-16.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KHNL 506.3K
$21.3K฿695.5K
-10.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9KHNL 503.2K
$22.2K฿726.1K
-14.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4HNL 2,167
$69.1฿2,258
17.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.05HNL 241
$14.08฿460
-35.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.38HNL 1,075
$18.00฿588
124.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.06฿1,342
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.63HNL 150
$5.92฿193
-4.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246HNL 6,566
$299฿9,775
-17.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.0K฿488.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.35HNL 1,235
$54.7฿1,788
-15.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.40HNL 970
$26.77฿875
35.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107HNL 2,848
$85.0฿2,778
25.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102HNL 2,710
$70.6฿2,308
44.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,759
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5
140.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Catacamas: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Catacamas versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Catacamas vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Catacamas 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
Catacamas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Catacamas?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $873 per month in Catacamas and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Catacamas or Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Catacamas and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Catacamas and Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 enough for either Catacamas or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $582 in Catacamas and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Catacamas or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Catacamas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Catacamas or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Catacamas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.