Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Antonio de Petrel Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Antonio de Petrel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,110 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,694 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,278 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than San Antonio de Petrel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and San Antonio de Petrel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, San Antonio de Petrel 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.73 CLP 7,752

-77.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$44.22 CLP 39.2K

-57.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.93 CLP 7,038

-1.39%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.86 CLP 2,538

-31.82%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.32 CLP 1,170

-35.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.02 CLP 906

-65.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.15 CLP 2,797

-32.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.25 CLP 3,775

-12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.24 CLP 1,099

37.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.56 CLP 1,385

4.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.94 CLP 1,722

-41.24%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.51 CLP 3,116

-45.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.68 CLP 9,477

51.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.83 CLP 6,059

-54.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.88 CLP 9,655

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.89 CLP 1,678

45.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.56 CLP 1,387

-22.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.60 CLP 1,423

1.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.50 CLP 1,330

6.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.29 CLP 1,148

8.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.35 CLP 1,198

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.22 CLP 1,085

-45.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.18 CLP 1,043

-55.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$5.53 CLP 4,904

-15.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.55 CLP 5,817

184.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.60 CLP 1,424

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.33 CLP 2,069

38.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.59 CLP 521

52.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.51 CLP 451

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.08 CLP 2,732

-58.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.42 CLP 1,261

-10.56%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$19.6K CLP 17.4M

8.63%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.6K CLP 19.2M

2.60%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$132 CLP 117.0K

-47.62%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.78 CLP 12.2K

2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.20 CLP 19.7K

-18.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$39.18 CLP 34.8K

4.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$21.01 CLP 18.6K

-66.87%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.73 CLP 5,089

3.32%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$434 CLP 385.3K

-31.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,228 CLP 1.1M

1117.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$49.76 CLP 44.2K

9.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$29.82 CLP 26.5K

-10.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$61.8 CLP 54.8K

37.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$81.8 CLP 72.6K

-13.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$488 CLP 433.3K

-12.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$380 CLP 337.5K

-37.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$890 CLP 789.7K

-9.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$587 CLP 520.7K

-12.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$453 CLP 401.7K

36.42%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for San Antonio de Petrel: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $488 in San Antonio de Petrel. 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 36% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in San Antonio de Petrel. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $233 in San Antonio de Petrel – so San Antonio de Petrel 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 San Antonio de Petrel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Antonio de Petrel costs about 28% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,665 in San Antonio de Petrel. 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 San Antonio de Petrel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in San Antonio de Petrel – 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 $866, than in San Antonio de Petrel at $1,110. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Antonio de Petrel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,110 in San Antonio de Petrel. 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, San Antonio de Petrel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.