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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $432 in Anaco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $686 in Anaco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $939 in Anaco, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 120% more than Anaco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Anaco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Anaco 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$11.92 VES 9,897

-82.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.84 VES 696

117.86%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.25 VES 1,036

-37.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.58 VES 485

-46.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$0.84 VES 701

178.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.74 VES 1,449

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.08 VES 901

31.48%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$3.61 VES 2,994

340.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.91 VES 6,569

24.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.55 VES 1,286

-1.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.57 VES 1,300

-21.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.99 VES 822

-49.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.24 VES 1,031

37.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.59 VES 1,318

82.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.29 VES 238

224.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.95 VES 2,447

-58.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.48 VES 402

200.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$38.58 VES 32.0K

-46.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$25.03 VES 20.8K

61.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$12.04 VES 9,995

-67.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$5.83 VES 4,839

15.09%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$45.69 VES 37.9K

1622.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$44.68 VES 37.1K

25.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$37.46 VES 31.1K

-33.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$45.56 VES 37.8K

103.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$39.26 VES 32.6K

91.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$112 VES 92.7K

333.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$70.8 VES 58.8K

305.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$253 VES 210.0K

259.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$180 VES 149.5K

194.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$238 VES 197.9K

730.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$170 VES 141.1K

754.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Anaco: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 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 120%, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $648 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 169% 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $45.69 in Anaco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Anaco, where all-in costs run around $432, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Anaco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.