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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,033 in Iquique, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,669 in Iquique, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,305 in Iquique, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Iquique, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Iquique are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Iquique 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$8.29 CLP 7,446

-76.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$43.84 CLP 39.4K

-57.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.29 CLP 6,549

6.31%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.74 CLP 3,363

-48.66%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.34 CLP 1,208

-41.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.02 CLP 914

-64.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.37 CLP 3,024

-34.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.85 CLP 3,461

-4.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.20 CLP 1,082

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.22 CLP 1,098

33.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.42 CLP 1,280

-16.20%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.58 CLP 3,214

-44.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.26 CLP 9,222

55.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.53 CLP 5,872

-53.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.13 CLP 10.0K

-2.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.83 CLP 1,648

50.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.28 CLP 2,050

-48.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.54 CLP 1,387

6.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.16 CLP 1,040

31.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.83 CLP 745

66.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.64 CLP 574

85.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.27 CLP 1,137

-44.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.22 CLP 1,098

-54.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$5.29 CLP 4,756

-13.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.18 CLP 7,353

102.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.55 CLP 1,397

18.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.26 CLP 2,027

41.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.69 CLP 618

27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.47 CLP 425

189.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.37 CLP 1,233

-10.22%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$19.9K CLP 17.9M

8.57%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$21.1K CLP 18.9M

7.05%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$82.4 CLP 74.1K

-14.39%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$13.50 CLP 12.1K

1.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$21.80 CLP 19.6K

-19.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$43.55 CLP 39.1K

-5.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$20.92 CLP 18.8K

-66.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.79 CLP 5,208

-0.35%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$428 CLP 384.2K

-28.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$31.77 CLP 28.6K

75.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$23.91 CLP 21.5K

9.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$49.18 CLP 44.2K

74.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$61.2 CLP 55.0K

17.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$445 CLP 400.2K

-3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$402 CLP 361.2K

-40.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$763 CLP 685.5K

7.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$853 CLP 766.8K

-40.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,854 CLP 1.7M

6.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$2,030 CLP 1.8M

-26.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$1,010 CLP 907.9K

-38.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

-33.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Iquique: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $445 in Iquique. 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 63% higher in Iquique, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Iquique. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $228 in Iquique – so Iquique 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 Iquique: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iquique costs about 19% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,550 in Iquique. 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 $44.00 in Iquique. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Iquique – 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 $869, than in Iquique at $1,033. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iquique it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,033 in Iquique. 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, Iquique makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.