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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,035 in Iquique, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,691 in Iquique, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,346 in Iquique, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Iquique, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Iquique are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Iquique 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$8.01 CLP 7,473

-74.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$42.69 CLP 39.8K

-56.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$7.17 CLP 6,687

9.62%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$3.69 CLP 3,444

-44.99%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$1.37 CLP 1,276

-41.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$1.03 CLP 958

-66.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$3.37 CLP 3,141

-36.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.66 CLP 3,418

0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.20 CLP 1,118

44.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.19 CLP 1,113

31.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.42 CLP 1,323

-15.49%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$3.49 CLP 3,257

-43.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$10.50 CLP 9,791

54.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.78 CLP 6,327

-54.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$11.11 CLP 10.4K

-2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$1.83 CLP 1,707

51.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$2.35 CLP 2,190

-50.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.58 CLP 1,474

8.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.15 CLP 1,074

38.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.79 CLP 733

75.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.68 CLP 631

70.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.23 CLP 1,147

-46.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$1.22 CLP 1,134

-57.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$5.45 CLP 5,088

-14.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$8.24 CLP 7,684

115.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.63 CLP 1,518

9.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.21 CLP 2,066

51.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.68 CLP 636

33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.50 CLP 469

182.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.42 CLP 1,328

-13.38%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$19.9K CLP 18.6M

7.72%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$21.8K CLP 20.3M

0.22%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$81.6 CLP 76.1K

-12.62%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$13.64 CLP 12.7K

2.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$21.65 CLP 20.2K

-17.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$42.84 CLP 40.0K

-4.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$21.60 CLP 20.1K

-68.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$5.59 CLP 5,213

2.33%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$443 CLP 413.0K

-30.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$32.48 CLP 30.3K

71.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$23.81 CLP 22.2K

9.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$47.97 CLP 44.7K

76.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$62.9 CLP 58.7K

12.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$437 CLP 407.4K

-3.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$400 CLP 373.1K

-39.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$748 CLP 697.9K

6.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$855 CLP 797.4K

-40.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$1,777 CLP 1.7M

7.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$2,002 CLP 1.9M

-26.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$964 CLP 899.1K

-38.27%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Iquique: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $437 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 62% 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 $43.00 in Iquique. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $230 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 21% 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 $1,552 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 $43.00 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 $852, than in Iquique at $1,035. 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 $852 versus $1,035 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.