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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,073 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,670 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,267 in Coquimbo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Coquimbo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Coquimbo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Coquimbo 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$7.34 CLP 6,770

-71.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$48.33 CLP 44.6K

-59.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$6.47 CLP 5,970

-9.58%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$3.86 CLP 3,564

-54.40%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$1.17 CLP 1,082

-36.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$1.12 CLP 1,035

-70.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$4.34 CLP 4,006

-43.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$5.06 CLP 4,668

-23.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.07 CLP 984

77.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.80 CLP 1,662

-7.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.65 CLP 1,518

-18.18%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$3.90 CLP 3,596

-45.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$11.47 CLP 10.6K

38.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$6.47 CLP 5,970

-56.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$12.70 CLP 11.7K

-17.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.97 CLP 1,820

20.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.67 CLP 1,538

-35.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.72 CLP 1,591

-11.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.70 CLP 1,566

-11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.03 CLP 947

24.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.48 CLP 1,361

-25.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.35 CLP 1,245

-48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$1.17 CLP 1,081

-58.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$5.54 CLP 5,114

-22.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$5.97 CLP 5,509

181.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.56 CLP 1,439

6.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.28 CLP 2,104

23.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.85 CLP 785

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.83 CLP 765

44.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.48 CLP 1,369

-3.38%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$19.8K CLP 18.3M

6.42%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$24.5K CLP 22.6M

10.91%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$119 CLP 110.2K

-45.79%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$13.52 CLP 12.5K

-2.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$20.45 CLP 18.9K

-4.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$27.85 CLP 25.7K

41.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$5.55 CLP 5,117

-32.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$7.26 CLP 6,697

-8.82%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$444 CLP 410.0K

81.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$8,551 CLP 7.9M

76.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$51.3 CLP 47.4K

6.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$30.01 CLP 27.7K

-15.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$60.2 CLP 55.6K

52.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$74.8 CLP 69.0K

-0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$512 CLP 472.4K

-8.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$425 CLP 391.9K

-33.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$1,042 CLP 961.0K

-14.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$682 CLP 629.6K

-23.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$647 CLP 596.5K

-8.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.15

8.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $512 in Coquimbo. 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 9% higher in Coquimbo, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $48.00 in Coquimbo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Coquimbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coquimbo costs about 17% 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,610 in Coquimbo. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $48.00 in Coquimbo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Coquimbo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Coquimbo at $1,073. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Coquimbo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $1,073 in Coquimbo. 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, Coquimbo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.