Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Puerto Montt Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Puerto Montt

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $455 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $769 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,083 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Puerto Montt, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Puerto Montt are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Puerto Montt 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$8.42 CLP 8,036

-75.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$36.27 CLP 34.6K

-45.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.51 CLP 7,165

-24.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.78 CLP 2,650

-34.89%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.90 CLP 861

-14.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.96 CLP 916

-63.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.17 CLP 1,120

75.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.59 CLP 2,467

-41.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.45 CLP 1,381

-3.45%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.21 CLP 3,060

-29.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$11.34 CLP 10.8K

42.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.81 CLP 5,546

-50.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$7.24 CLP 6,907

30.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.06 CLP 1,011

152.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.44 CLP 1,370

-24.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.65 CLP 2,527

-38.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.87 CLP 1,784

-21.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.59 CLP 1,514

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.30 CLP 1,238

-44.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.56 CLP 1,490

-66.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.84 CLP 4,618

-12.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$5.89 CLP 5,622

210.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.44 CLP 1,371

13.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.56 CLP 1,488

85.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.90 CLP 863

-2.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.32 CLP 1,262

9.85%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$63.9 CLP 61.0K

-0.44%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$11.40 CLP 10.9K

13.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$31.60 CLP 30.2K

-35.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$147 CLP 139.9K

434.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$529 CLP 505.0K

-7.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

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 13, 2026

Last update for Puerto Montt: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $529 in Puerto Montt. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Puerto Montt. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $224 in Puerto Montt – so Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Puerto Montt, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $682 in Puerto Montt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Montt, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $36.00 in Puerto Montt. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Montt, where all-in costs run around $455, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Puerto Montt 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. Puerto Montt costs $455 versus $932 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 Puerto Montt. 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.