Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Progreso Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Progreso

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $144 in El Progreso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $289 in El Progreso, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $434 in El Progreso, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 561% more than El Progreso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and El Progreso are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, El Progreso 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$4.85 HNL 130

-56.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$25.23 HNL 678

-21.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$8.15 HNL 219

-28.96%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.47 HNL 39.42

24.49%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.81 HNL 21.75

-3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.97 HNL 26.13

-68.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.52 HNL 40.85

53.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.96 HNL 52.6

88.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.34 HNL 35.88

51.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.14 HNL 30.67

24.56%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.62 HNL 43.40

34.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.44 HNL 38.64

-23.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.65 HNL 44.20

-31.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.67 HNL 71.6

60.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.30 HNL 34.78

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.41 HNL 37.79

105.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for El Progreso: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in El Progreso. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $46.00 in El Progreso – so El Progreso 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 El Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 561% more than El Progreso, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $216 in El Progreso. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $144 in El Progreso. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 431% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in El Progreso, where all-in costs run around $144, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In El Progreso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. El Progreso costs $144 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 El Progreso. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.