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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Chiang Mai versus $623 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,267 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Chiang Mai versus $1,912 in Calama.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 53% more expensive than in Calama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Calama 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$7.43 CLP 6,990

-71.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$33.77 CLP 31.8K

-41.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.12 CLP 1,994

-13.68%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.92 CLP 869

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.94 CLP 880

-67.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.23 CLP 3,038

-27.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$5.30 CLP 4,987

-30.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.19 CLP 1,123

70.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.85 CLP 796

88.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.72 CLP 2,561

-47.79%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$5.01 CLP 4,714

-56.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$9.51 CLP 8,955

67.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.57 CLP 6,187

-53.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.87 CLP 7,406

25.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.25 CLP 1,173

110.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.09 CLP 1,024

0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.62 CLP 1,525

0.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.17 CLP 1,101

30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.99 CLP 934

25.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.04 CLP 982

8.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.34 CLP 5,024

-19.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$4.38 CLP 4,120

310.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.09 CLP 1,026

55.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.29 CLP 1,215

124.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.94 CLP 887

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

$1.49 CLP 1,399

-64.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.57 CLP 1,480

-8.28%

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

$42.85 CLP 40.3K

51.53%

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$13.75 CLP 12.9K

51.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$53.1 CLP 50.0K

-23.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$21.07 CLP 19.8K

-81.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.87 CLP 4,588

37.78%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$320 CLP 301.5K

145.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$38.10 CLP 35.9K

47.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$29.59 CLP 27.9K

-15.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$47.34 CLP 44.5K

95.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$64.4 CLP 60.6K

16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$353 CLP 332.5K

36.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$108 CLP 101.9K

165.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$844 CLP 794.3K

7.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$639 CLP 601.4K

-16.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,487 CLP 1.4M

33.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,299 CLP 1.2M

11.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,164 CLP 1.1M

-48.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Calama: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $484 in Chiang Mai and $353 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 92% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $34.00 in Calama. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $183, with Calama 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 Calama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 92% lower in Calama. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $484 in Chiang Mai versus $353 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Chiang Mai versus $623 in Calama – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $623 in Calama versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Calama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Calama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $623 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Calama 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 Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.