🙂A single person spends $733 per month in Cerquilho vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,167 per month in Cerquilho vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,601 per month in Cerquilho vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Cerquilho is about 14% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cerquilho and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cerquilho45% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.46R$32.18
$1.96฿63.6
229.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.30R$141
$18.81฿611
50.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09R$35.29
$7.92฿258
-10.48%
Cappuccino
$1.77R$8.82
$1.91฿62.2
-7.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31R$6.51
$0.84฿27.25
55.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.30
$0.35฿11.44
145.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.06R$5.25
$2.21฿71.7
-52.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65R$13.18
$3.80฿124
-30.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.40
$1.64฿53.2
-34.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42R$7.07
$1.62฿52.8
-12.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26R$6.25
$1.18฿38.40
6.78%
Eggs
$2.35R$11.70
$2.01฿65.4
16.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34R$41.51
$15.89฿517
-47.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.84R$9.16
$3.01฿98.0
-38.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.39R$26.84
$10.77฿350
-49.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84R$9.16
$2.61฿85.0
-29.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81R$9.03
$1.22฿39.65
48.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05R$5.22
$1.70฿55.4
-38.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52R$7.59
$1.58฿51.2
-3.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29R$6.44
$1.32฿42.89
-2.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55R$2.76
$1.17฿38.01
-52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79R$3.91
$0.67฿21.85
17.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52R$2.61
$0.56฿18.21
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.24R$6.20
$4.53฿147
-72.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.28R$46.23
$18.20฿592
-49.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09R$5.45
$1.83฿59.6
-40.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68R$13.33
$3.23฿105
-17.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89R$4.43
$0.89฿28.83
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.13R$190
$19.38฿630
96.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94R$4.68
$1.35฿43.95
-30.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02R$5.08
$1.35฿43.79
-24.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.47R$42.20
$8.25฿268
2.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.00
$1.27฿41.40
-21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KR$110.8K
$21.2K฿687.8K
5.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KR$143.1K
$22.5K฿731.0K
27.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.84R$238
$70.2฿2,281
-31.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.65R$63.0
$13.77฿448
-8.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.25R$71.0
$17.60฿572
-19.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.80R$114
$41.57฿1,352
-45.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.97R$109
$6.60฿215
232.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.33R$26.53
$5.78฿188
-7.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$317R$1,576
$306฿9,953
3.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,865R$34.2K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-53.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.72R$153
$54.4฿1,768
-43.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.83R$88.8
$26.14฿850
-31.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.7R$267
$84.5฿2,748
-36.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2R$355
$69.4฿2,257
2.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$316R$1,575
$424฿13.8K
-25.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$220R$1,097
$238฿7,743
-7.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589R$2,931
$825฿26.8K
-28.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422R$2,100
$515฿16.7K
-18.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,774R$8,836
$2,049฿66.6K
-13.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,095R$5,452
$1,523฿49.5K
-28.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cerquilho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
5
118.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cerquilho: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $316 in Cerquilho 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cerquilho versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Cerquilho vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Cerquilho 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
Cerquilho vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cerquilho or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Cerquilho, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cerquilho vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,100 per month in Cerquilho and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cerquilho or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cerquilho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Cerquilho and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $317 per month in Cerquilho and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cerquilho or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 47% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Cerquilho or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $733 in Cerquilho and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cerquilho or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cerquilho costs $733 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cerquilho compared to 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.
Should I move to Cerquilho or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Cerquilho. 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.