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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,085 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,662 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,239 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% 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 36% lower, San Antonio de Petrel 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$8.68 CLP 8,104

-77.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$45.25 CLP 42.3K

-59.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.03 CLP 7,492

-6.85%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.75 CLP 2,565

-26.55%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.37 CLP 1,275

-37.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.06 CLP 985

-66.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.29 CLP 3,073

-34.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.08 CLP 3,813

-12.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.23 CLP 1,145

34.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.51 CLP 1,412

3.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.94 CLP 1,810

-38.66%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.43 CLP 3,204

-43.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.30 CLP 9,613

57.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.60 CLP 6,160

-54.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.05 CLP 10.3K

-1.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.86 CLP 1,737

45.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.57 CLP 1,464

-25.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.60 CLP 1,494

5.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.45 CLP 1,354

10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.24 CLP 1,154

11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.36 CLP 1,266

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.27 CLP 1,189

-47.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.23 CLP 1,146

-54.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.26 CLP 4,913

-11.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.37 CLP 5,944

176.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.62 CLP 1,510

14.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.22 CLP 2,072

48.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.62 CLP 578

41.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.50 CLP 471

172.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$3.12 CLP 2,916

-57.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.37 CLP 1,284

-10.95%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.5K CLP 18.2M

9.51%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$21.4K CLP 20.0M

5.38%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$133 CLP 124.3K

-46.90%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.46 CLP 12.6K

4.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$21.62 CLP 20.2K

-19.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$37.94 CLP 35.4K

11.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$21.18 CLP 19.8K

-67.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.62 CLP 5,246

5.34%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$442 CLP 412.2K

-30.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,249 CLP 1.2M

1091.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$49.84 CLP 46.5K

11.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$30.37 CLP 28.4K

-14.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$62.0 CLP 57.8K

33.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$82.8 CLP 77.3K

-14.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$479 CLP 447.5K

-9.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$373 CLP 348.2K

-35.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$897 CLP 837.3K

-8.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$596 CLP 556.4K

-14.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$434 CLP 404.9K

33.60%

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 12, 2026

Last update for San Antonio de Petrel: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $479 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 34% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in San Antonio de Petrel. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $230 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 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,628 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $45.00 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 $861, than in San Antonio de Petrel at $1,085. 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 $861 versus $1,085 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.