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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,069 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,622 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,176 in Coquimbo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Coquimbo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Coquimbo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Coquimbo 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$8.66 CLP 7,783

-77.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$44.66 CLP 40.1K

-57.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.21 CLP 7,378

-5.60%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.72 CLP 2,441

-29.41%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.30 CLP 1,165

-39.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.02 CLP 915

-64.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.21 CLP 2,883

-31.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.06 CLP 3,650

-9.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.06 CLP 950

55.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.53 CLP 1,374

6.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.92 CLP 1,726

-38.02%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.43 CLP 3,079

-41.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.34 CLP 9,295

54.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.72 CLP 6,039

-54.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$10.79 CLP 9,695

0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.82 CLP 1,633

51.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.52 CLP 1,362

-22.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.55 CLP 1,391

5.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.45 CLP 1,304

4.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.27 CLP 1,143

8.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.42 CLP 1,277

-16.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.27 CLP 1,141

-44.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.19 CLP 1,068

-52.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$5.51 CLP 4,950

-16.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.02 CLP 5,411

175.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.56 CLP 1,402

17.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.21 CLP 1,988

44.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.63 CLP 564

39.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.47 CLP 419

189.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.37 CLP 1,235

-10.22%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$19.6K CLP 17.6M

10.50%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$21.3K CLP 19.1M

6.00%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$132 CLP 118.9K

-46.69%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$13.32 CLP 12.0K

2.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$21.78 CLP 19.6K

-19.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$37.95 CLP 34.1K

8.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$21.29 CLP 19.1K

-67.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.81 CLP 5,222

-0.69%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$438 CLP 394.0K

-29.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$51.6 CLP 46.4K

8.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$29.86 CLP 26.8K

-12.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$62.1 CLP 55.8K

38.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$83.2 CLP 74.8K

-13.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$486 CLP 436.4K

-11.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$373 CLP 335.5K

-36.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$892 CLP 801.6K

-8.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$592 CLP 531.7K

-13.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$661 CLP 594.3K

-6.43%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $486 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 7% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Coquimbo. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $226 in Coquimbo – so Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coquimbo costs about 23% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,604 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $45.00 in Coquimbo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Coquimbo – 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 $869, than in Coquimbo at $1,069. 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 $869 versus $1,069 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.