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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $47.23 in Artigas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $71.0 in Artigas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $93.9 in Artigas.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 1874% more expensive than in Artigas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Artigas 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

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

$12.89 ฿429

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$29.36 UYU 1,180

32.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$8.83 UYU 355

-25.48%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿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 13, 2026

Last update for Artigas: September 12, 2026

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 Artigas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Artigas wins on cost – living expenses run 1874% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artigas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $70.8 in Artigas 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.

At $47.23 in Artigas versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Artigas but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Artigas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $47.23 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artigas hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Artigas 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 Artigas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1874% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.