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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,068 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,617 in Coquimbo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,165 in Coquimbo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Coquimbo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Coquimbo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Coquimbo 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$8.59 CLP 7,642

-77.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$43.78 CLP 38.9K

-57.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.91 CLP 7,030

0.13%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.70 CLP 2,405

-29.26%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.35 CLP 1,200

-37.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.01 CLP 901

-65.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.19 CLP 2,841

-30.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.15 CLP 3,688

-8.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.09 CLP 971

50.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.58 CLP 1,402

2.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.86 CLP 1,651

-36.56%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.51 CLP 3,121

-42.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.30 CLP 9,162

54.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.50 CLP 5,779

-53.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$11.07 CLP 9,845

-2.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.80 CLP 1,601

45.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.58 CLP 1,407

-22.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.59 CLP 1,416

6.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.50 CLP 1,332

5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.28 CLP 1,140

3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.35 CLP 1,203

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.28 CLP 1,135

-47.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.17 CLP 1,043

-52.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$5.36 CLP 4,763

-15.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.14 CLP 8,131

99.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.57 CLP 1,396

16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.20 CLP 1,961

46.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.62 CLP 549

43.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.51 CLP 454

164.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.39 CLP 1,233

-8.63%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$19.3K CLP 17.2M

9.65%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$21.3K CLP 18.9M

5.63%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$134 CLP 119.3K

-47.72%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$13.41 CLP 11.9K

2.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$21.84 CLP 19.4K

-19.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$38.75 CLP 34.5K

7.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$21.16 CLP 18.8K

-68.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.81 CLP 5,171

-0.52%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$431 CLP 383.3K

-28.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$50.0 CLP 44.5K

8.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$29.98 CLP 26.7K

-12.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$61.8 CLP 54.9K

36.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$83.0 CLP 73.8K

-16.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$472 CLP 419.4K

-10.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$372 CLP 330.6K

-35.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$878 CLP 780.4K

-6.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$584 CLP 519.6K

-11.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$661 CLP 587.7K

-3.89%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $472 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 4% 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 $44.00 in Coquimbo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $233 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 25% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,602 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 $44.00 in Coquimbo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% 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 $852, than in Coquimbo at $1,068. 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 $852 versus $1,068 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.