🙂A single person spends $587 per month in Catacamas vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $962 per month in Catacamas vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,336 per month in Catacamas vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Catacamas is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Catacamas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Catacamas56% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.88HNL 157
$1.96฿65.8
200.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.01HNL 989
$18.35฿617
101.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82HNL 209
$7.48฿252
4.55%
Cappuccino
$2.31HNL 61.6
$2.02฿67.8
14.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94HNL 25.16
$0.85฿28.50
10.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12HNL 30.05
$0.36฿11.96
211.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.18HNL 31.58
$2.14฿71.8
-44.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63HNL 70.3
$3.59฿121
-26.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46HNL 39.10
$1.65฿55.5
-11.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09HNL 56.0
$1.57฿52.7
33.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22HNL 32.70
$1.19฿40.02
2.52%
Eggs
$2.11HNL 56.4
$1.94฿65.1
8.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03HNL 161
$16.19฿544
-62.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87HNL 103
$2.99฿101
29.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98HNL 213
$10.94฿368
-27.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89HNL 77.2
$2.71฿91.2
6.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51HNL 40.47
$1.17฿39.25
29.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46HNL 38.95
$1.69฿56.7
-13.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52HNL 40.69
$1.60฿54.0
-5.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.58HNL 42.35
$1.38฿46.54
14.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41HNL 37.63
$1.20฿40.45
17.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83HNL 22.29
$0.67฿22.50
23.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72HNL 45.93
$0.56฿18.73
207.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44HNL 65.2
$4.64฿156
-47.41%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28HNL 34.27
$1.86฿62.5
-31.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86HNL 49.70
$3.30฿111
-43.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.68
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿650
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.31HNL 115
$1.36฿45.90
216.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.34฿44.98
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21฿276
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02HNL 27.28
$1.22฿41.18
-16.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KHNL 505.4K
$21.4K฿718.1K
-11.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3KHNL 516.7K
$22.5K฿757.7K
-14.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.1HNL 2,196
$70.7฿2,376
16.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.80HNL 235
$14.04฿472
-37.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.71HNL 1,115
$17.49฿588
138.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$42.15฿1,417
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.89HNL 157
$5.92฿199
-0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246HNL 6,573
$309฿10.4K
-20.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.9K฿500.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.39HNL 1,240
$55.8฿1,875
-16.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.63HNL 953
$26.11฿878
36.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107HNL 2,867
$83.0฿2,792
29.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103HNL 2,743
$70.5฿2,369
45.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$432฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿8,035
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$512฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Catacamas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Catacamas versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Catacamas vs $243 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 47%, 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 $880 per month in Catacamas and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Catacamas and $18.00 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 $587 in Catacamas and $861 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.