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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,083 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,617 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $2,150 in Calama.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 21% less than in Calama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Calama 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$8.15 CLP 7,611

-75.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$33.33 CLP 31.1K

-44.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.90 CLP 7,375

-5.32%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.11 CLP 1,968

-4.27%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.98 CLP 917

-13.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.93 CLP 867

-61.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.29 CLP 3,075

-34.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.15 CLP 3,872

-13.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.23 CLP 1,151

34.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.52 CLP 1,423

3.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.89 CLP 1,760

-37.04%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.51 CLP 3,276

-44.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.63 CLP 9,922

52.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.53 CLP 6,099

-54.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.08 CLP 10.3K

-1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.90 CLP 1,770

42.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.51 CLP 1,408

-22.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.52 CLP 1,423

11.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.45 CLP 1,352

10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.24 CLP 1,156

11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.39 CLP 1,300

-13.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.22 CLP 1,144

-45.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.17 CLP 1,094

-52.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.28 CLP 4,933

-12.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$5.92 CLP 5,526

197.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.60 CLP 1,491

16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.22 CLP 2,076

48.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.59 CLP 549

49.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.51 CLP 472

166.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.53 CLP 1,424

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.54 CLP 1,442

-20.78%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

8.75%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$21.7K CLP 20.3M

3.79%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$131 CLP 122.0K

-45.91%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.71 CLP 12.8K

2.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$22.29 CLP 20.8K

-21.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$38.39 CLP 35.8K

9.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

-68.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.70 CLP 5,323

3.86%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$432 CLP 403.4K

-28.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$50.6 CLP 47.2K

10.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$30.49 CLP 28.5K

-14.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$62.8 CLP 58.6K

32.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$82.9 CLP 77.3K

-14.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$352 CLP 328.4K

22.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$378 CLP 352.7K

-36.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$847 CLP 790.6K

-2.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$590 CLP 550.9K

-13.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,467 CLP 1.4M

30.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,276 CLP 1.2M

14.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,160 CLP 1.1M

-50.03%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calama: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $352 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 100% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $33.00 in Calama. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $229, 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

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 100% 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $352 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,083 in Calama – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.