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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $845 in Chiang Mai versus $661 in Aguilares.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Chiang Mai versus $1,033 in Aguilares.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Chiang Mai versus $1,404 in Aguilares.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 28% more expensive than Aguilares, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 37% lower, Aguilares 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$2.47 $2.47

-21.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$11.95 $11.95

54.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$6.90 $6.90

8.70%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$3.18 $3.18

-39.31%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.87 $0.87

-10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.52 $0.52

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.48 $1.48

45.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.53 $2.53

46.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.85 $1.85

-7.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$1.95 $1.95

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.53 $1.53

-22.88%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.76 $1.76

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$6.95 $6.95

130.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$4.52 $4.52

-29.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$10.95 $10.95

-0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$3.21 $3.21

-18.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.66 $1.66

-29.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$2.14 $2.14

-22.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$2.66 $2.66

-42.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$2.22 $2.22

-37.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$2.11 $2.11

-44.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$1.01 $1.01

-34.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$1.03 $1.03

-50.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$3.92 $3.92

15.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$10.83 $10.83

69.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.47 $1.47

22.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.42 $2.42

31.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.51 $0.51

76.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$64.0 $64.0

-70.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$5.63 $5.63

-74.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$3.00 $3.00

-56.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$19.62 $19.62

-58.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.01 $1.01

26.73%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$18.0K $18.0K

18.14%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$19.9K $19.9K

8.83%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$27.97 $27.97

147.41%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$19.48 $19.48

-28.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$35.63 $35.63

-49.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$20.02 $20.02

111.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$20.23 $20.23

-67.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$3.44 $3.44

72.09%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$148 $148

102.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$5,980 $5,980

148.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$25.39 $25.39

121.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$27.46 $27.46

-1.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$115 $115

-25.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$103 $103

-30.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$75.4 $75.4

477.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.58

-41.72%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Aguilares: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Chiang Mai and $75 in Aguilares. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18 in Chiang Mai vs $12 in Aguilares for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $237 per month, with Aguilares 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 Aguilares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,267 in Chiang Mai and $991 in Aguilares 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $435 in Chiang Mai versus $75.4 in Aguilares. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $845 per month in Chiang Mai versus $661 in Aguilares – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Aguilares runs roughly 237% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Aguilares 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 Aguilares delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $661 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aguilares hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Aguilares 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 Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.