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 $952 in Curico, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,404 in Curico, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,857 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 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.80 CLP 4,469

-57.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$32.79 CLP 30.5K

-42.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.43 CLP 6,913

5.79%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$3.29 CLP 3,057

-38.30%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.59 CLP 1,477

-49.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$1.07 CLP 991

-67.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$3.21 CLP 2,988

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.58 CLP 3,331

2.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.22 CLP 1,137

41.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.54 CLP 1,430

1.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.92 CLP 1,787

-37.50%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.27 CLP 2,112

-13.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$10.39 CLP 9,667

56.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.61 CLP 6,155

-53.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$10.88 CLP 10.1K

-0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.11 CLP 1,961

31.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.57 CLP 1,459

-25.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.05 CLP 1,909

-16.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.88 CLP 1,747

-15.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.95 CLP 1,816

-28.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.70 CLP 1,581

-31.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.29 CLP 1,198

-48.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.94 CLP 873

-44.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$5.83 CLP 5,425

-20.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$6.15 CLP 5,718

189.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.62 CLP 1,508

10.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.60 CLP 2,417

28.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.58 CLP 543

56.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.51 CLP 473

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.45 CLP 1,349

-7.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$11.61 CLP 10.8K

-30.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.41 CLP 1,316

-12.77%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$19.7K CLP 18.3M

9.07%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$22.8K CLP 21.2M

-4.34%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$134 CLP 124.9K

-46.87%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$10.90 CLP 10.1K

28.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$21.80 CLP 20.3K

-17.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$39.07 CLP 36.3K

4.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$21.29 CLP 19.8K

-67.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.42 CLP 5,973

-10.90%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$439 CLP 408.1K

-29.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$8,696 CLP 8.1M

68.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$54.7 CLP 50.9K

1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$32.52 CLP 30.3K

-19.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$37.52 CLP 34.9K

126.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$49.44 CLP 46.0K

43.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$444 CLP 413.4K

-4.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$299 CLP 277.9K

-18.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$621 CLP 577.9K

28.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$400 CLP 371.8K

26.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$474 CLP 440.7K

25.63%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Curico: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $444 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 26% 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 $33.00 in Curico. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $230 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,428 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 $33.00 in Curico. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% 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 $852, than in Curico at $952. 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 $852 versus $952 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.