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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,156 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,786 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,416 in San Bernardo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 26% cheaper than San Bernardo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and San Bernardo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, San Bernardo 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$10.84 CLP 10.1K

-81.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$53.4 CLP 49.7K

-64.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.40 CLP 7,813

-6.43%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$3.14 CLP 2,923

-35.35%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.94 CLP 870

-14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$1.29 CLP 1,200

-72.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$3.19 CLP 2,972

-32.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$4.27 CLP 3,975

-14.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.11 CLP 1,036

55.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.52 CLP 1,418

3.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.12 CLP 1,969

-43.40%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$4.12 CLP 3,834

-52.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$10.51 CLP 9,783

54.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.72 CLP 6,248

-54.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

-0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.07 CLP 1,930

33.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.63 CLP 1,513

-28.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.11 CLP 1,962

-18.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.93 CLP 1,791

-17.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.93 CLP 1,796

-27.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.61 CLP 1,498

-27.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.29 CLP 1,199

-48.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.22 CLP 1,137

-57.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.48 CLP 3,242

33.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$6.24 CLP 5,807

184.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.54 CLP 1,431

16.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.47 CLP 2,301

35.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.58 CLP 539

56.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.51 CLP 471

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.46 CLP 1,354

-8.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$11.69 CLP 10.9K

-30.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.42 CLP 1,320

-13.38%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$19.4K CLP 18.0M

10.59%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$23.1K CLP 21.5M

-5.35%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$130 CLP 121.0K

-45.13%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$13.61 CLP 12.7K

2.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$22.23 CLP 20.7K

-19.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$38.49 CLP 35.8K

6.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$20.84 CLP 19.4K

-66.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.52 CLP 6,066

-12.27%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$444 CLP 413.0K

-30.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$8,593 CLP 8.0M

70.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$54.4 CLP 50.7K

2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$32.35 CLP 30.1K

-19.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$78.0 CLP 72.5K

8.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$83.8 CLP 78.0K

-15.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$485 CLP 451.1K

-12.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$380 CLP 353.7K

-36.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$889 CLP 827.4K

-10.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$592 CLP 551.0K

-14.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,945 CLP 1.8M

-1.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,395 CLP 1.3M

4.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$1,390 CLP 1.3M

-57.18%

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 San Bernardo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $485 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 134% higher in San Bernardo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in San Bernardo. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $241 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

San Bernardo costs about 36% 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 $1,733 in San Bernardo. 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 $53.0 in San Bernardo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in San Bernardo – 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 San Bernardo at $1,156. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Bernardo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,156 in San Bernardo. 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 Bernardo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.