Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Castro

For one person, living is cheaper in Castro: $858 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $940 less a year. The total is higher in Chiang Mai despite lower rent and utilities.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Castro

🇨🇱 Chile

$858

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Castro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Castro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $858 in Castro, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Castro $858

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,360 in Castro, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Castro $1,360

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,862 in Castro, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Castro $1,862

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Castro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Castro are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Castro 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$8.02 CLP 7,963

-72.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$44.65 CLP 44.4K

-57.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$5.70 CLP 5,658

-2.63%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.54 CLP 1,532

8.44%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$1.19 CLP 1,184

-46.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$1.03 CLP 1,022

-69.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$5.18 CLP 5,150

-54.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$7.13 CLP 7,080

-48.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.06 CLP 1,058

83.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$3.52 CLP 3,492

-59.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$1.27 CLP 1,265

4.72%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$4.21 CLP 4,182

-45.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$9.85 CLP 9,789

67.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$4.01 CLP 3,988

-30.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$8.37 CLP 8,316

11.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.38 CLP 1,367

70.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$2.15 CLP 2,139

-54.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.49 CLP 1,476

7.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.88 CLP 1,867

-20.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$1.17 CLP 1,159

9.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.56 CLP 1,546

-54.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$1.47 CLP 1,465

-66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.56 CLP 3,537

16.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$7.63 CLP 7,575

129.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.03 CLP 1,018

56.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$3.00 CLP 2,977

-7.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.71 CLP 709

22.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.29 CLP 1,283

12.40%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$15.3K CLP 15.2M

38.07%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$17.9K CLP 17.8M

50.37%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$130 CLP 129.1K

-52.17%

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$29.80 CLP 29.6K

-32.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$79.4 CLP 78.9K

15.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$351 CLP 348.4K

37.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$279 CLP 277.2K

10.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$1,012 CLP 1.0M

-0.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$570 CLP 565.7K

11.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$600 CLP 595.8K

-1.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-20.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Castro: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Castro

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Castro

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Castro

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Castro

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Castro

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Castro

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Castro

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $351 in Castro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $45 in Castro. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $231 in Castro – so Castro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇱 Castro

🕒 Local time

11:12 11:12 AM

01:12 1:12 AM

10 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

33,417

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.07 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 993 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.01 USD). 1 EUR = 1,109 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Castro 17,290 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Castro

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Castro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Castro, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,286 in Castro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Castro, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $351 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $858 in Castro. That makes Castro about 8% cheaper.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $45 in Castro. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $858 in Castro. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $858 in Castro to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.