Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Aguadulce Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Aguadulce

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $893 in Aguadulce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,432 in Aguadulce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,971 in Aguadulce.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 4% less than in Aguadulce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Aguadulce 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$10.05 PAB 10.05

-80.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$50.8 PAB 50.8

-63.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.80 PAB 7.80

-4.10%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.64 PAB 3.64

-44.51%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.67 PAB 1.67

-49.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.40 PAB 1.40

-74.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.03 PAB 3.03

-29.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.88 PAB 3.88

-7.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.90 PAB 1.90

-13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.51 PAB 2.51

-37.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-52.78%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-32.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$11.55 PAB 11.55

40.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.99 PAB 6.99

-57.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.06 PAB 10.06

8.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.30 PAB 3.30

-17.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.49 PAB 1.49

-21.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-40.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.22 PAB 3.22

-50.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-38.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.79 PAB 2.79

-56.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-70.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-64.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.92 PAB 5.92

-21.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.76 PAB 10.76

63.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.24 PAB 1.24

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.34 PAB 2.34

41.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.24 PAB 0.24

266.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-46.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.77 PAB 1.77

-24.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$22.41 PAB 22.41

-63.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.88 PAB 0.88

38.64%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

8.57%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

9.77%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$124 PAB 124

-43.02%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$29.68 PAB 29.68

-52.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$48.99 PAB 48.99

-64.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$46.95 PAB 46.95

-10.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.77 PAB 7.77

-23.81%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$479 PAB 479

-35.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$15.6K PAB 15.6K

-4.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$50.8 PAB 50.8

9.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$45.74 PAB 45.74

-42.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$90.8 PAB 90.8

-8.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$123 PAB 123

-42.75%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

-19.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Aguadulce: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $51.0 in Aguadulce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $291 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

Chiang Mai vs Aguadulce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Aguadulce. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,339 in Aguadulce 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Aguadulce. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $893 in Aguadulce – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Aguadulce are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Aguadulce. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.