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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,067 in Ancud.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,634 in Ancud.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $2,200 in Ancud.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 19% less than in Ancud, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ancud 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$8.75 CLP 8,169

-77.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$44.39 CLP 41.4K

-58.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.90 CLP 7,379

-5.32%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.74 CLP 2,559

-26.28%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.35 CLP 1,264

-37.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.07 CLP 996

-66.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.24 CLP 3,026

-33.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.07 CLP 3,798

-11.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.18 CLP 1,103

39.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.57 CLP 1,469

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.89 CLP 1,761

-37.04%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.64 CLP 3,394

-46.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.61 CLP 9,902

52.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.55 CLP 6,114

-54.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.08 CLP 10.3K

-1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.88 CLP 1,752

44.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.51 CLP 1,414

-22.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.58 CLP 1,476

6.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.44 CLP 1,343

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.29 CLP 1,208

6.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.40 CLP 1,310

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.23 CLP 1,144

-45.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.16 CLP 1,087

-51.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.52 CLP 5,154

-15.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.44 CLP 6,009

173.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.57 CLP 1,461

18.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.29 CLP 2,140

44.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.57 CLP 534

54.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.50 CLP 469

172.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.42 CLP 1,323

-14.08%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.9K CLP 18.6M

7.22%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$21.1K CLP 19.7M

6.85%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$130 CLP 121.2K

-45.58%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.59 CLP 12.7K

3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$21.82 CLP 20.4K

-19.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$38.31 CLP 35.8K

10.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$21.04 CLP 19.6K

-67.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.76 CLP 5,381

2.78%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$436 CLP 406.9K

-29.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$49.86 CLP 46.6K

11.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$30.78 CLP 28.7K

-15.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$62.0 CLP 57.9K

33.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$82.0 CLP 76.6K

-14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$477 CLP 445.6K

-9.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$373 CLP 348.0K

-35.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$886 CLP 826.9K

-7.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$602 CLP 561.9K

-14.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

-3.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ancud: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $477 in Ancud. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $44.00 in Ancud. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $230, with Ancud cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ancud: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,601 in Ancud 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $477 in Ancud. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Ancud pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,067 in Ancud – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,067 in Ancud, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Ancud. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ancud, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Ancud 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Ancud. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.