Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in San Ignacio de Velasco: $111 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

San Ignacio de Velasco

🇧🇴 Bolivia

$111

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in San Ignacio de Velasco

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in San Ignacio de Velasco actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $111 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
San Ignacio de Velasco $111

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $181 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
San Ignacio de Velasco $181

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $252 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
San Ignacio de Velasco $252

Chiang Mai costs about 746% more than San Ignacio de Velasco, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and San Ignacio de Velasco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, San Ignacio de Velasco 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$0.44 BOB 5.30

359.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$2.56 BOB 30.79

-44.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$0.41 BOB 4.92

239.02%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$2.04 BOB 24.63

16.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$2.16 BOB 26.07

664.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$1.49 BOB 17.97

79.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$2.55 BOB 30.69

253.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$1.72 BOB 20.71

39.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$1.28 BOB 15.48

-18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$0.81 BOB 9.78

104.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$0.60 BOB 7.28

160.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$0.86 BOB 10.37

44.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$0.43 BOB 5.18

153.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$0.35 BOB 4.25

117.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.69 BOB 8.32

-26.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$1.00 BOB 12.00

312.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$4.27 BOB 51.5

319.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$1.00 BOB 12.05

62.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

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

$11.60 ฿391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

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

$727 ฿24.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for San Ignacio de Velasco: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

San Ignacio de Velasco

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

San Ignacio de Velasco

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

San Ignacio de Velasco

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

San Ignacio de Velasco

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

San Ignacio de Velasco

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

San Ignacio de Velasco

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

San Ignacio de Velasco

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇧🇴 San Ignacio de Velasco

🕒 Local time

13:35 1:35 PM

02:35 2:35 AM

11 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

31,594

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Bolivian Boliviano BOB Bs.

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 BOB = 8.3 USD

100 BOB = 7.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BOB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.72 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Bolivian Boliviano exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 12.05 BOB (100 BOB = 8.3 USD). 1 EUR = 13.48 BOB (100 BOB = 7.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai San Ignacio de Velasco 17,870 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
San Ignacio de Velasco

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 746% more than San Ignacio de Velasco, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $166 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 $935 in Chiang Mai and $111 in San Ignacio de Velasco. That makes San Ignacio de Velasco about 88% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 114% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $111 in San Ignacio de Velasco to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.