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: $950 in Chiang Mai versus $231 in Ancud.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,430 in Chiang Mai versus $451 in Ancud.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Chiang Mai versus $672 in Ancud.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 312% more expensive than in Ancud, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ancud 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$10.61 CLP 9,982

-80.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$26.49 CLP 24.9K

-25.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.34 CLP 5,966

-8.68%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.63 CLP 2,471

-30.42%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.62 CLP 586

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.62 CLP 583

227.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$2.21 CLP 2,078

-27.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.73 CLP 688

94.52%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.89 CLP 1,782

15.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.29 CLP 3,095

-6.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$13.32 CLP 12.5K

-25.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

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

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

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 Ancud: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $26.00 in Ancud. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $95.0, 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

Ancud is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 312% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,426 in Chiang Mai and $346 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 155% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ancud – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $231 in Ancud versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ancud but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Ancud the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ancud is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, 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 Ancud gentler on the wallet – expenses run 312% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.