๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $768 in Catanduva versus $845 in Chiang Mai.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,256 in Catanduva versus $1,323 in Chiang Mai.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,744 in Catanduva versus $1,802 in Chiang Mai.
๐Living in Catanduva costs roughly 9% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Catanduva43% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.03R$34.96
$1.95เธฟ62.8
260.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.94R$164
$18.43เธฟ594
78.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.71R$33.36
$7.50เธฟ241
-10.53%
Cappuccino
$1.79R$8.88
$1.93เธฟ62.3
-7.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.09
$0.78เธฟ25.08
56.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77R$3.81
$0.32เธฟ10.42
140.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83R$9.12
$2.15เธฟ69.2
-14.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76R$13.71
$3.71เธฟ120
-25.61%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03R$5.12
$1.71เธฟ55.2
-39.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75R$8.69
$1.56เธฟ50.3
12.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14R$5.67
$1.18เธฟ38.06
-3.39%
Eggs
$1.84R$9.14
$1.98เธฟ63.9
-7.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06R$50.0
$16.04เธฟ517
-37.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.04R$20.06
$3.17เธฟ102
27.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.23R$40.90
$10.94เธฟ353
-24.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18R$10.82
$2.63เธฟ84.7
-17.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29R$6.42
$1.17เธฟ37.61
10.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43R$7.11
$1.65เธฟ53.0
-13.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74R$3.68
$1.54เธฟ49.51
-51.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92R$4.55
$1.38เธฟ44.34
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88R$4.36
$1.17เธฟ37.54
-24.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93R$4.62
$0.66เธฟ21.25
40.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.35
$0.51เธฟ16.55
31.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85R$9.18
$4.52เธฟ146
-59.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.21R$40.78
$18.32เธฟ590
-55.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31R$6.52
$1.80เธฟ57.9
-27.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05R$10.17
$3.18เธฟ102
-35.53%
๐ Getting Around
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.63
$0.90เธฟ28.97
3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.50R$191
$19.00เธฟ612
102.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16R$5.75
$1.41เธฟ45.50
-17.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63R$3.12
$1.31เธฟ42.15
-51.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.53R$37.44
$8.09เธฟ261
-6.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.33
$1.28เธฟ41.08
-16.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KR$113.5K
$21.3Kเธฟ686.1K
7.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8KR$143.4K
$21.7Kเธฟ699.3K
32.91%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.0R$259
$69.2เธฟ2,230
-24.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.12R$30.42
$13.97เธฟ450
-56.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.33R$81.2
$17.95เธฟ578
-9.03%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.10R$110
$42.31เธฟ1,363
-47.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.82R$108
$6.66เธฟ214
227.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.39R$31.74
$5.92เธฟ191
7.94%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$331R$1,646
$299เธฟ9,640
10.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,762R$43.5K
$14.8Kเธฟ478.4K
-40.99%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3R$270
$56.2เธฟ1,810
-3.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.28R$180
$26.94เธฟ868
34.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.8R$377
$84.9เธฟ2,735
-10.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.2R$264
$71.8เธฟ2,314
-25.99%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311R$1,545
$435เธฟ14.0K
-28.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$216R$1,074
$240เธฟ7,727
-9.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579R$2,879
$798เธฟ25.7K
-27.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429R$2,131
$498เธฟ16.1K
-13.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,640R$8,152
$1,995เธฟ64.3K
-17.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,247R$6,195
$1,532เธฟ49.4K
-18.62%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Catanduva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628เธฟ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.17
5
123.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Catanduva: April 19, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Catanduva and $435 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $33 in Catanduva vs $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $244, with Catanduva cheaper for home cooking.
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
Catanduva vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Catanduva and Chiang Mai?
Catanduva and Chiang Mai differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($768 vs $845 including rent). Catanduva is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Catanduva compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $1,152 in Catanduva and $1,267 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Catanduva and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Catanduva versus $435 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Catanduva โ a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Catanduva vs Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Catanduva gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Catanduva and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Catanduva or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Catanduva and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Catanduva or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Catanduva gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 10% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.