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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $451 in Anaco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $708 in Anaco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $966 in Anaco, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 91% more than Anaco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Anaco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Anaco 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$11.80 VES 8,675

-83.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.88 VES 649

129.55%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.25 VES 917

-32.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.58 VES 427

-37.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$0.85 VES 623

151.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.74 VES 1,281

-5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.12 VES 823

6.25%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$3.58 VES 2,629

352.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.08 VES 5,936

35.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.56 VES 1,148

2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.63 VES 1,195

-15.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.03 VES 754

-45.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.23 VES 903

51.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.63 VES 1,197

102.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.29 VES 211

203.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.99 VES 2,197

-54.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.52 VES 386

134.62%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$37.98 VES 27.9K

-53.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$45.06 VES 33.1K

-6.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.79 VES 8,669

-41.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.06 VES 4,453

-2.31%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$45.17 VES 33.2K

583.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$44.35 VES 32.6K

25.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$37.65 VES 27.7K

-30.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$45.10 VES 33.2K

84.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$39.96 VES 29.4K

76.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$112 VES 82.2K

286.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$69.7 VES 51.3K

242.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$251 VES 184.6K

227.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$180 VES 132.4K

184.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$242 VES 177.5K

692.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$170 VES 125.2K

761.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Anaco: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $112 in Anaco. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Anaco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $676 in Anaco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Anaco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 167% 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $45.17 in Anaco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $451 in Anaco, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Anaco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Anaco. 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.