ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $655 in Cadiz, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,036 in Cadiz, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,417 in Cadiz, rent included.
ðChiang Mai costs about 30% more than Cadiz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Cadiz are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai36% lower, Cadiz51% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$2.62âą161
-25.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$8.62âą532
118.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$3.59âą221
120.61%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$1.53âą94.4
24.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$0.43âą26.51
95.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$0.32âą19.79
9.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$0.99âą61.1
123.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$1.72âą106
120.93%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$1.88âą116
-12.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$1.27âą78.4
27.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$0.89âą55.2
32.58%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$2.01âą124
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$5.88âą363
170.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$4.18âą258
-27.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$7.04âą434
52.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$3.72âą229
-29.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$1.14âą70.6
7.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$3.37âą208
-49.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$1.55âą95.3
1.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$2.55âą157
-48.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$3.01âą185
-61.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$0.42âą26.02
59.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.85âą52.2
-34.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$2.79âą172
62.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$7.51âą463
142.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$1.29âą79.4
41.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$1.39âą85.6
132.37%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$0.26âą15.99
242.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$0.74âą45.56
82.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.24âą14.84
462.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$2.74âą169
201.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.11âą68.3
14.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$23.7Kâą1.5M
-10.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$19.9Kâą1.2M
13.13%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$64.9âą4,005
8.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$12.41âą765
10.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$29.74âą1,834
-40.82%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$33.36âą2,057
24.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$4.40âą271
50.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$5.36âą331
7.84%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$36.03âą2,222
749.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$4,399âą271.3K
237.05%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$46.47âą2,866
17.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$23.44âą1,446
11.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$62.7âą3,869
34.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$26.53âą1,636
161.70%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$263âą16.2K
61.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$174âą10.7K
37.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$596âą36.8K
38.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$401âą24.7K
28.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$2,099âą129.5K
-2.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cadiz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
$196âą12.1K
224.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8
-37.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cadiz: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $263 in Cadiz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 225% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Cadiz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $199 â making Cadiz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Cadiz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Cadiz, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Cadiz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $983 in Cadiz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cadiz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Cadiz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $9.00 in Cadiz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
$800 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $655 in Cadiz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cadiz costs $655 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Cadiz?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Cadiz?
If budget matters most, go with Cadiz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared