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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $977 in Curico, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,403 in Curico, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,829 in Curico, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% 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 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.79 CLP 4,245

-59.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$31.71 CLP 28.1K

-42.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$7.47 CLP 6,614

5.35%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$3.19 CLP 2,825

-38.87%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$1.65 CLP 1,461

-48.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$1.09 CLP 966

-70.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$3.28 CLP 2,909

-34.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$3.60 CLP 3,191

2.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.18 CLP 1,049

40.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$1.57 CLP 1,387

-0.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.89 CLP 1,678

-37.04%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$2.26 CLP 1,998

-11.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$10.30 CLP 9,121

57.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$6.53 CLP 5,782

-51.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$10.81 CLP 9,574

0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$2.11 CLP 1,871

25.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.61 CLP 1,430

-24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$2.11 CLP 1,870

-21.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.85 CLP 1,636

-16.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.97 CLP 1,742

-32.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.62 CLP 1,433

-25.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$1.30 CLP 1,148

-47.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.95 CLP 844

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$5.68 CLP 5,029

-17.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$6.68 CLP 5,918

154.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.62 CLP 1,433

12.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.52 CLP 2,228

26.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.57 CLP 508

59.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.47 CLP 419

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$1.47 CLP 1,306

-8.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$11.39 CLP 10.1K

-28.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.43 CLP 1,271

-10.49%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$19.9K CLP 17.6M

9.57%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$22.3K CLP 19.7M

0.48%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$130 CLP 115.3K

-45.87%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$10.98 CLP 9,726

27.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$21.98 CLP 19.5K

-19.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$37.94 CLP 33.6K

8.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$21.36 CLP 18.9K

-68.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$6.55 CLP 5,803

-9.01%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$433 CLP 383.5K

-30.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$8,493 CLP 7.5M

76.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$55.1 CLP 48.8K

-0.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$33.13 CLP 29.3K

-20.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$37.42 CLP 33.1K

129.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$48.80 CLP 43.2K

42.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$434 CLP 384.7K

-1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$296 CLP 261.8K

-19.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$620 CLP 548.9K

30.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$412 CLP 365.1K

23.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$508 CLP 450.3K

22.46%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Curico: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $434 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 22% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Curico. Groceries tell a different story – $242 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 15% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,466 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 $18.00 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $977 in Curico, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $977 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.