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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $457 in Anaco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $725 in Anaco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $993 in Anaco, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Anaco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Anaco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Anaco 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$12.19 VES 6,795

-84.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$0.82 VES 459

137.80%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.19 VES 665

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.58 VES 321

-39.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.91 VES 507

134.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.74 VES 968

-1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.13 VES 628

0.88%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$3.59 VES 1,998

351.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.04 VES 4,481

35.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.50 VES 838

6.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.57 VES 872

-10.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.01 VES 565

-47.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.23 VES 688

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.58 VES 879

104.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.31 VES 174

190.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.93 VES 1,631

-51.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.51 VES 285

149.02%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$37.93 VES 21.1K

-52.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$44.57 VES 24.8K

-7.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$12.12 VES 6,755

-42.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.90 VES 3,290

0.34%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$44.45 VES 24.8K

572.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$44.83 VES 25.0K

22.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$37.96 VES 21.2K

-29.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$44.71 VES 24.9K

90.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$39.65 VES 22.1K

78.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$110 VES 61.1K

290.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$68.8 VES 38.3K

245.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$253 VES 141.1K

216.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$178 VES 99.3K

189.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$236 VES 131.4K

737.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$172 VES 96.0K

755.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Anaco: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $110 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 89%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $686 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 172% 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $44.45 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $457 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.