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: $848 in Chiang Mai versus $319 in Artigas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,331 in Chiang Mai versus $366 in Artigas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in Chiang Mai versus $414 in Artigas.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 166% more expensive than Artigas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Artigas 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$1.23 UYU 49.76

-26.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$44.77 UYU 1,805

-58.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$1.49 UYU 59.9

-5.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$1.50 UYU 60.6

-10.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$10.87 UYU 438

-25.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$2.39 UYU 96.5

-46.44%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$38.9K UYU 1.6M

-43.92%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$39.6K UYU 1.6M

-43.39%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$174 UYU 7,035

-59.61%

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

$14.05 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$38.64 UYU 1,558

-54.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$29.77 UYU 1,200

38.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$8.49 UYU 342

-29.80%

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Artigas: June 16, 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 166% 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 $1,272 in Chiang Mai and $478 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.

A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 139% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $848 per month in Chiang Mai versus $319 in Artigas – a 166% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Artigas gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $319 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 166% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.