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 $1,069 in Quellón, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,633 in Quellón, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,197 in Quellón, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% 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

$2.04 ฿68.4

$8.61 CLP 8,033

-76.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$44.10 CLP 41.1K

-57.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$8.19 CLP 7,638

-4.03%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$2.84 CLP 2,650

-28.52%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$1.29 CLP 1,207

-37.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$1.03 CLP 960

-66.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$3.31 CLP 3,090

-35.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$4.23 CLP 3,945

-13.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.20 CLP 1,119

44.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.55 CLP 1,447

1.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.89 CLP 1,762

-36.51%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$3.51 CLP 3,274

-43.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$10.55 CLP 9,842

53.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.81 CLP 6,349

-55.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$10.80 CLP 10.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$1.90 CLP 1,768

45.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.56 CLP 1,452

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.58 CLP 1,477

8.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.52 CLP 1,420

4.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.23 CLP 1,148

13.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.36 CLP 1,267

-14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.27 CLP 1,184

-48.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$1.23 CLP 1,148

-57.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$5.46 CLP 5,094

-14.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$5.90 CLP 5,499

201.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.63 CLP 1,517

9.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.30 CLP 2,143

45.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.57 CLP 533

59.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.47 CLP 440

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.38 CLP 1,288

-10.87%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

9.14%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$21.8K CLP 20.3M

0.33%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$130 CLP 121.2K

-45.08%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$13.48 CLP 12.6K

3.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$21.70 CLP 20.2K

-17.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$39.07 CLP 36.4K

4.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$21.39 CLP 20.0K

-67.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$5.75 CLP 5,362

-0.52%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$438 CLP 408.7K

-29.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$50.1 CLP 46.7K

11.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$30.03 CLP 28.0K

-13.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$60.5 CLP 56.4K

40.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$84.0 CLP 78.3K

-15.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$483 CLP 450.8K

-12.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$377 CLP 351.2K

-35.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$882 CLP 822.4K

-9.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$586 CLP 546.6K

-13.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Quellón: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $483 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 $44.00 in Quellón. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $231 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 25% 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 $1,603 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 $44.00 in Quellón. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% 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 $1,069. 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 $1,069 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.