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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,075 in Quellón, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,663 in Quellón, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,251 in Quellón, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Quellón, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Quellón are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Quellón 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$8.54 CLP 7,592

-77.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$44.87 CLP 39.9K

-58.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.06 CLP 7,166

-1.74%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.86 CLP 2,539

-33.22%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.29 CLP 1,150

-34.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.01 CLP 900

-65.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.30 CLP 2,933

-33.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.21 CLP 3,746

-9.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.19 CLP 1,058

37.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.57 CLP 1,392

3.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.96 CLP 1,740

-39.80%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.61 CLP 3,208

-44.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.45 CLP 9,291

52.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.50 CLP 5,783

-53.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.83 CLP 9,626

-0.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.87 CLP 1,665

39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.50 CLP 1,338

-18.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.59 CLP 1,414

6.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.46 CLP 1,301

8.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.23 CLP 1,094

7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.41 CLP 1,253

-17.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.25 CLP 1,112

-46.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.17 CLP 1,043

-52.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$5.41 CLP 4,811

-16.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$10.23 CLP 9,093

77.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.62 CLP 1,440

12.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.33 CLP 2,076

38.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.61 CLP 543

45.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.48 CLP 425

181.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.38 CLP 1,223

-7.97%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

7.30%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$21.1K CLP 18.8M

6.34%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$130 CLP 115.3K

-45.90%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$13.31 CLP 11.8K

3.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$22.35 CLP 19.9K

-21.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$38.25 CLP 34.0K

8.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$21.49 CLP 19.1K

-69.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.52 CLP 4,910

4.71%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$428 CLP 380.8K

-28.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$50.3 CLP 44.8K

8.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$30.11 CLP 26.8K

-13.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$61.1 CLP 54.3K

38.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$83.4 CLP 74.1K

-16.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$480 CLP 426.5K

-11.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$369 CLP 328.1K

-35.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$870 CLP 773.2K

-5.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$593 CLP 527.2K

-13.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

-3.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Quellón: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $480 in Quellón. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Quellón. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $237 in Quellón – so Quellón 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 Quellón: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quellón costs about 26% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,612 in Quellón. 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 $45.00 in Quellón. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Quellón – 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 Quellón at $1,075. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quellón it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,075 in Quellón. 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, Quellón makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.