Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Bernardo Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Bernardo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $925 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,448 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,972 in San Bernardo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than San Bernardo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and San Bernardo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, San Bernardo 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$8.01 CLP 7,647

-74.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$26.45 CLP 25.2K

-25.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.98 CLP 6,657

-18.77%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.65 CLP 2,533

-31.70%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.99 CLP 949

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.07 CLP 1,020

-67.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.20 CLP 4,010

-47.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$4.72 CLP 4,504

-19.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.14 CLP 1,086

79.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.28 CLP 1,219

17.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.63 CLP 1,560

-14.11%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$4.08 CLP 3,895

-44.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$11.42 CLP 10.9K

41.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.51 CLP 4,308

-35.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.98 CLP 10.5K

-14.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.90 CLP 1,809

41.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.59 CLP 1,516

-31.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.47 CLP 1,407

10.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.77 CLP 1,688

-17.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.88 CLP 840

45.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.80 CLP 764

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.25 CLP 1,188

-42.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.13 CLP 1,081

-53.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.32 CLP 3,164

27.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$6.09 CLP 5,810

200.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.61 CLP 1,540

1.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.52 CLP 2,405

15.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.81 CLP 776

8.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.41 CLP 389

185.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.93 CLP 886

-37.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$11.80 CLP 11.3K

-79.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.36 CLP 1,301

6.62%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$18.4K CLP 17.5M

14.41%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$21.7K CLP 20.7M

21.90%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$125 CLP 118.9K

-48.92%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$12.48 CLP 11.9K

3.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$16.51 CLP 15.8K

24.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$20.41 CLP 19.5K

91.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$7.67 CLP 7,320

-14.21%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$447 CLP 426.9K

75.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$11.1K CLP 10.6M

32.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$37.13 CLP 35.4K

48.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$27.27 CLP 26.0K

-9.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$68.2 CLP 65.1K

38.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$82.1 CLP 78.4K

-9.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$279 CLP 265.8K

76.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$256 CLP 244.0K

12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$716 CLP 683.3K

24.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$552 CLP 526.7K

-5.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,925 CLP 1.8M

2.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,417 CLP 1.4M

1.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$1,347 CLP 1.3M

-55.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.39

3.34%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for San Bernardo: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $279 in San Bernardo. 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 124% higher in San Bernardo, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in San Bernardo. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in San Bernardo – so San Bernardo 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 Bernardo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than San Bernardo, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,387 in San Bernardo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Bernardo, 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 $26.00 in San Bernardo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 San Bernardo, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In San Bernardo 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. San Bernardo costs $925 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 San Bernardo. 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.