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: $950 in Chiang Mai versus $917 in Aguadulce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,493 in Aguadulce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Chiang Mai versus $2,068 in Aguadulce.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 4% more expensive than in Aguadulce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Aguadulce 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$9.98 PAB 9.98

-78.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$44.44 PAB 44.44

-55.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.93 PAB 7.93

-26.99%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.97 PAB 3.97

-53.90%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.92 PAB 1.92

-59.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.51 PAB 1.51

-79.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.93 PAB 2.93

-20.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.98 PAB 3.98

-7.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.85 PAB 1.85

9.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$2.36 PAB 2.36

-32.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$3.13 PAB 3.13

-54.63%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.75 PAB 2.75

-20.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$12.56 PAB 12.56

26.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.49 PAB 6.49

-52.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.42 PAB 10.42

-5.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$4.47 PAB 4.47

-41.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.68 PAB 1.68

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$4.01 PAB 4.01

-59.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$4.10 PAB 4.10

-62.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$3.11 PAB 3.11

-60.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$4.33 PAB 4.33

-73.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$2.19 PAB 2.19

-66.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-70.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$6.03 PAB 6.03

-29.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$11.16 PAB 11.16

61.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.40 PAB 1.40

21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.83 PAB 2.83

2.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.26 PAB 0.26

261.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.57 PAB 2.57

-52.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.85 PAB 1.85

-71.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$21.68 PAB 21.68

-88.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.15 PAB 1.15

25.22%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$21.6K PAB 21.6K

-1.69%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$21.1K PAB 21.1K

29.54%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$133 PAB 133

-51.08%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$28.48 PAB 28.48

-53.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$48.03 PAB 48.03

-56.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$46.21 PAB 46.21

-12.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$7.87 PAB 7.87

-14.74%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$536 PAB 536

46.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$9,449 PAB 9,449

60.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$61.1 PAB 61.1

-7.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$45.98 PAB 45.98

-45.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$95.5 PAB 95.5

-2.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$119 PAB 119

-36.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.39

-12.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aguadulce: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $44.00 in Aguadulce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $318 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

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

You'd need roughly $1,426 in Chiang Mai and $1,376 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.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 31% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Chiang Mai versus $917 in Aguadulce – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $917 in Aguadulce versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguadulce but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Aguadulce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Aguadulce delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $917 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aguadulce 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 Aguadulce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.