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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,023 in Chillan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,525 in Chillan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,026 in Chillan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Chillan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Chillan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Chillan 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.29 CLP 4,692

-63.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$26.70 CLP 23.7K

-30.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.07 CLP 5,390

28.83%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.06 CLP 2,712

-36.27%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.95 CLP 842

-10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.90 CLP 796

-61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.62 CLP 3,214

-41.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.07 CLP 3,613

-8.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.10 CLP 978

55.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.76 CLP 1,558

-7.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.92 CLP 1,706

-40.63%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.81 CLP 3,385

-49.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.42 CLP 6,589

118.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.81 CLP 6,043

-54.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.78 CLP 9,569

1.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.86 CLP 1,655

47.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.58 CLP 1,405

-23.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.54 CLP 1,364

5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.45 CLP 1,284

9.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.30 CLP 1,151

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.35 CLP 1,196

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.27 CLP 1,129

-48.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.21 CLP 1,076

-56.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$5.50 CLP 4,879

-14.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$3.70 CLP 3,287

404.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.55 CLP 1,374

16.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.33 CLP 2,064

38.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.63 CLP 560

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.51 CLP 454

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.35 CLP 1,199

-5.93%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$12.5K CLP 11.1M

69.55%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$15.7K CLP 13.9M

41.77%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$133 CLP 117.6K

-47.90%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.74 CLP 12.2K

2.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$24.57 CLP 21.8K

-26.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$16.13 CLP 14.3K

154.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$21.20 CLP 18.8K

-67.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$11.63 CLP 10.3K

-49.10%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$433 CLP 384.2K

-30.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$51.5 CLP 45.7K

6.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$30.72 CLP 27.3K

-12.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$50.6 CLP 44.9K

67.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$66.0 CLP 58.6K

6.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$481 CLP 427.3K

-11.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$375 CLP 333.2K

-36.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$465 CLP 412.5K

72.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$596 CLP 529.0K

-13.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,581 CLP 2.3M

-42.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$731 CLP 648.3K

-15.48%

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 Chillan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $481 in Chillan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Chillan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Chillan. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $218 in Chillan – so Chillan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Chillan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chillan costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,534 in Chillan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $27.00 in Chillan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Chillan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Chillan at $1,023. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chillan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,023 in Chillan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chillan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.