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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $950 in Curico, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,413 in Curico, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,876 in Curico, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Curico, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Curico are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Curico 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.74 CLP 4,247

-58.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$32.23 CLP 28.9K

-41.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$7.38 CLP 6,611

7.32%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$3.13 CLP 2,801

-38.98%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$1.60 CLP 1,431

-47.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$1.09 CLP 979

-67.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$3.25 CLP 2,911

-32.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.51 CLP 3,146

8.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.23 CLP 1,101

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.53 CLP 1,373

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$1.98 CLP 1,777

-40.40%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.29 CLP 2,048

-12.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$10.33 CLP 9,255

53.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$6.62 CLP 5,933

-54.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$10.98 CLP 9,831

-1.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.01 CLP 1,804

29.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.60 CLP 1,437

-23.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$2.14 CLP 1,915

-20.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.94 CLP 1,741

-18.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$1.93 CLP 1,733

-31.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.66 CLP 1,491

-29.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.31 CLP 1,170

-48.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.99 CLP 890

-43.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$5.79 CLP 5,182

-21.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$6.54 CLP 5,854

178.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.61 CLP 1,441

13.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.47 CLP 2,209

30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.58 CLP 522

53.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$0.47 CLP 423

187.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$1.42 CLP 1,269

-4.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$11.33 CLP 10.1K

-27.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.36 CLP 1,221

-6.62%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$19.7K CLP 17.6M

7.38%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$22.8K CLP 20.4M

-1.38%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$135 CLP 120.5K

-47.87%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$10.87 CLP 9,734

26.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$21.30 CLP 19.1K

-17.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$38.38 CLP 34.4K

8.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$20.88 CLP 18.7K

-68.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$6.62 CLP 5,925

-12.69%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$438 CLP 392.5K

-30.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$8,524 CLP 7.6M

73.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$56.3 CLP 50.4K

-3.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$33.11 CLP 29.7K

-21.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$37.57 CLP 33.6K

125.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$48.90 CLP 43.8K

41.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$442 CLP 396.3K

-4.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$291 CLP 260.7K

-18.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$631 CLP 565.6K

30.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$409 CLP 366.3K

25.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$500 CLP 447.6K

27.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Curico: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $442 in Curico. 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 27% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $32.00 in Curico. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Curico – so Curico 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 Curico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Curico costs about 12% 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 $1,426 in Curico. 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 $32.00 in Curico. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Curico – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $950 in Curico, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $950 in Curico. 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, Curico makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.