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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,087 in Ancud.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,649 in Ancud.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $2,210 in Ancud.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 20% less than in Ancud, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ancud 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$8.76 CLP 7,835

-77.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$44.37 CLP 39.7K

-57.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.13 CLP 7,278

-3.81%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.80 CLP 2,509

-30.36%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.31 CLP 1,174

-35.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.03 CLP 920

-66.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.25 CLP 2,911

-34.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.06 CLP 3,635

-8.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.19 CLP 1,068

43.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.52 CLP 1,357

7.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.86 CLP 1,666

-38.71%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.47 CLP 3,101

-44.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.64 CLP 9,520

52.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.57 CLP 5,877

-52.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.79 CLP 9,651

1.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.90 CLP 1,698

44.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.52 CLP 1,359

-20.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.54 CLP 1,378

5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.49 CLP 1,337

6.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.28 CLP 1,142

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.34 CLP 1,201

-12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.26 CLP 1,124

-47.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.22 CLP 1,094

-56.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$5.36 CLP 4,797

-12.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$6.00 CLP 5,370

211.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.56 CLP 1,397

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.26 CLP 2,020

42.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.61 CLP 547

47.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.51 CLP 457

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.38 CLP 1,237

-7.97%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$19.5K CLP 17.5M

8.88%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$21.2K CLP 19.0M

4.59%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$132 CLP 117.7K

-47.48%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.30 CLP 11.9K

5.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.35 CLP 20.0K

-19.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$39.24 CLP 35.1K

4.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$21.06 CLP 18.8K

-66.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.73 CLP 5,124

3.32%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$441 CLP 394.1K

-32.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$51.1 CLP 45.7K

7.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$30.59 CLP 27.4K

-12.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$62.9 CLP 56.2K

35.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$81.0 CLP 72.5K

-12.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$488 CLP 436.4K

-12.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$375 CLP 335.6K

-36.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$889 CLP 795.2K

-9.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$602 CLP 538.3K

-14.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ancud: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $488 in Ancud. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $44.00 in Ancud. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $228, 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 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $1,631 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $488 in Ancud. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Ancud pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,087 in Ancud – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,087 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 26% less than in Ancud. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.