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 $926 per month in Chiang Mai vs $567 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,381 per month in Chiang Mai vs $936 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,305 in Coquimbo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than Coquimbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Coquimbo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Coquimbo 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿70.6

$6.81 CLP 6,742

-69.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.22 ฿645

$45.62 CLP 45.2K

-57.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$6.28 CLP 6,215

-12.90%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ฿56.6

$3.66 CLP 3,617

-53.83%

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

$0.65 ฿21.71

$1.17 CLP 1,158

-44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$1.06 CLP 1,048

-70.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.8

$4.04 CLP 3,995

-42.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 ฿131

$4.73 CLP 4,685

-17.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$1.05 CLP 1,044

97.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ฿51.4

$3.19 CLP 3,157

-52.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 ฿41.93

$1.26 CLP 1,245

-0.79%

Eggs

$2.19 ฿73.6

$2.68 CLP 2,649

-18.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿535

$8.35 CLP 8,260

90.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 ฿89.1

$1.37 CLP 1,353

94.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ฿35.32

$1.91 CLP 1,892

-45.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$1.05 CLP 1,038

58.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ฿49.49

$0.96 CLP 948

54.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.73

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.95

$1.27 CLP 1,257

-13.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.50

$0.60 CLP 593

26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.66

$1.35 CLP 1,337

-62.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$5.05 CLP 5,002

-13.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.50 ฿587

$8.45 CLP 8,363

107.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.2

$4.73 CLP 4,681

-41.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.88

$0.86 CLP 851

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.7 ฿1,803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.57

$1.43 CLP 1,412

1.40%

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

$21.1K ฿706.4K

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

$26.3K ฿882.3K

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

$63.6 ฿2,133

$105 CLP 103.6K

-39.27%

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

$12.56 ฿422

$12.18 CLP 12.1K

3.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.04 ฿672

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 ฿1,299

$26.14 CLP 25.9K

48.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.80 ฿127

$5.10 CLP 5,047

-25.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ฿217

$4.02 CLP 3,979

60.95%

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

$777 ฿26.1K

$255 CLP 252.2K

204.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿489.1K

$29.4K CLP 29.1M

-50.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 ฿1,853

$45.59 CLP 45.1K

21.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.77 ฿831

$25.39 CLP 25.1K

-2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 ฿3,029

$61.4 CLP 60.8K

47.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,467

$81.1 CLP 80.3K

-9.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ฿15.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 ฿9,601

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 ฿29.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 ฿17.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,978 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,461 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 ฿19.5K

$617 CLP 610.4K

-5.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 6% higher in Coquimbo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $46.00 in Coquimbo. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $158 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

Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than Coquimbo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $850 in Coquimbo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $46.00 in Coquimbo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Coquimbo, where all-in costs run around $567, than in Chiang Mai at $926. In Coquimbo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Coquimbo costs $567 versus $926 in Chiang Mai. 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 Coquimbo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.