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 $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $964 in Curico, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,412 in Curico, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,860 in Curico, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Curico, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Curico are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Curico 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.9

$5.58 CLP 5,262

-62.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿659

$48.26 CLP 45.5K

-58.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿185

$9.11 CLP 8,596

-38.75%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿57.5

$3.41 CLP 3,223

-48.97%

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

$0.72 ฿23.82

$1.79 CLP 1,688

-59.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.59

$1.27 CLP 1,201

-74.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿74.5

$2.94 CLP 2,776

-23.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿126

$2.71 CLP 2,559

40.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿66.8

$1.31 CLP 1,233

54.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.0

$1.77 CLP 1,673

-11.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.21

$1.60 CLP 1,508

-12.50%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.3

$2.24 CLP 2,115

-4.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿518

$11.44 CLP 10.8K

36.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.6

$6.74 CLP 6,359

-56.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿314

$11.14 CLP 10.5K

-14.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.2

$2.05 CLP 1,936

26.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿35.80

$1.54 CLP 1,455

-29.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.7

$1.65 CLP 1,559

-3.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.09

$1.78 CLP 1,682

-18.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.26

$1.09 CLP 1,030

17.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿36.78

$1.57 CLP 1,485

-29.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.04

$1.23 CLP 1,163

-40.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.54

$0.93 CLP 881

-46.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿141

$5.45 CLP 5,144

-21.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿585

$6.42 CLP 6,056

175.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿55.7

$1.64 CLP 1,552

2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿92.8

$2.45 CLP 2,309

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.64

$0.77 CLP 723

12.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.15

$0.44 CLP 415

175.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.84

$0.93 CLP 875

-41.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.0

$11.96 CLP 11.3K

-80.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.46

$1.45 CLP 1,364

0.69%

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

$21.0K ฿695.7K

$18.6K CLP 17.5M

13.20%

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

$26.7K ฿883.8K

$22.0K CLP 20.8M

21.26%

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

$62.1 ฿2,055

$155 CLP 146.4K

-59.98%

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

$12.93 ฿428

$10.44 CLP 9,848

23.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿682

$20.16 CLP 19.0K

2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,298

$20.92 CLP 19.7K

87.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿216

$7.38 CLP 6,968

-11.65%

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

$803 ฿26.6K

$427 CLP 402.5K

88.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿486.6K

$11.4K CLP 10.8M

28.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,850

$51.4 CLP 48.5K

8.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿845

$29.70 CLP 28.0K

-14.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,015

$36.37 CLP 34.3K

150.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,427

$46.78 CLP 44.1K

56.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$425 CLP 401.5K

13.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,542

$284 CLP 268.3K

1.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.3K

$626 CLP 590.5K

41.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.3K

$399 CLP 376.4K

31.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿47.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.0K

$482 CLP 454.9K

25.04%

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 21, 2026

Last update for Curico: September 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $425 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 25% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $48.00 in Curico. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $231 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 2% 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 $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,447 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $48.00 in Curico. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Curico – 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 $942, than in Curico at $964. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Curico it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $942 versus $964 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.