Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Ignacio de Velasco Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Ignacio de Velasco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $160 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $266 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $372 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 438% more than San Ignacio de Velasco, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and San Ignacio de Velasco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, San Ignacio de Velasco 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.75 BOB 8.08

120.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.74 BOB 18.66

-9.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.76 BOB 8.19

56.58%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.40 BOB 36.59

-42.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$3.54 BOB 38.08

357.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.60 BOB 27.94

15.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.31 BOB 46.32

153.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.92 BOB 31.41

-7.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.21 BOB 23.74

-47.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.44 BOB 15.47

17.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.99 BOB 10.67

61.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.49 BOB 16.02

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.71 BOB 7.66

69.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.60 BOB 6.43

11.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.18 BOB 12.66

-52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.72 BOB 18.44

169.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.17 BOB 77.1

145.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.78 BOB 19.10

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Ignacio de Velasco: July 14, 2026

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 Ignacio de Velasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 438% more than San Ignacio de Velasco, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $240 in San Ignacio de Velasco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $160 in San Ignacio de Velasco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 50% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $160 in San Ignacio de Velasco, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Ignacio de Velasco costs $160 versus $861 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 Ignacio de Velasco. 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.