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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,091 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,592 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $2,094 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 35% lower, Calama 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$7.90 CLP 7,070

-75.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$33.27 CLP 29.8K

-43.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.03 CLP 7,184

-2.62%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.14 CLP 1,912

-8.88%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.94 CLP 840

-9.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.96 CLP 857

-63.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.25 CLP 2,908

-34.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.05 CLP 3,628

-7.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.17 CLP 1,051

46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.58 CLP 1,411

3.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.92 CLP 1,715

-40.63%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.57 CLP 3,198

-45.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.62 CLP 9,500

52.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.78 CLP 6,066

-53.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.08 CLP 9,913

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.89 CLP 1,694

45.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.51 CLP 1,350

-19.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.60 CLP 1,433

1.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.49 CLP 1,334

6.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.28 CLP 1,150

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.40 CLP 1,250

-16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.21 CLP 1,080

-45.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.19 CLP 1,064

-55.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$5.34 CLP 4,780

-12.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$6.19 CLP 5,541

201.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.55 CLP 1,390

16.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.21 CLP 1,981

46.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.62 CLP 550

45.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.47 CLP 423

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.52 CLP 1,356

-15.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.57 CLP 1,409

-19.11%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$19.7K CLP 17.6M

8.05%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$21.8K CLP 19.5M

1.73%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$132 CLP 117.8K

-47.56%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.64 CLP 12.2K

3.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.20 CLP 19.9K

-18.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$38.42 CLP 34.4K

6.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$20.96 CLP 18.8K

-66.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.76 CLP 5,154

2.78%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$433 CLP 387.0K

-30.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$50.5 CLP 45.2K

8.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$30.42 CLP 27.2K

-12.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$61.2 CLP 54.8K

38.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$83.1 CLP 74.3K

-15.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$356 CLP 318.6K

20.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$369 CLP 329.7K

-35.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$861 CLP 770.4K

-6.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$604 CLP 540.0K

-14.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,542 CLP 1.4M

28.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,365 CLP 1.2M

8.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,240 CLP 1.1M

-50.20%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calama: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $356 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 101% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $33.00 in Calama. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $231, 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, Calama earns 101% less. 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $356 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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,091 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 $866 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.