Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Pedro de Atacama Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Pedro de Atacama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,068 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,615 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,161 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than San Pedro de Atacama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and San Pedro de Atacama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$7.26 CLP 6,965

-71.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿654

$44.43 CLP 42.6K

-55.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.79 CLP 7,468

-27.21%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.2

$2.80 CLP 2,685

-35.36%

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

$0.77 ฿25.60

$1.57 CLP 1,508

-50.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.50

$1.17 CLP 1,122

-70.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.8

$3.47 CLP 3,332

-36.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.84 CLP 3,684

-1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.18 CLP 1,133

73.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.5

$1.51 CLP 1,448

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.61

$1.61 CLP 1,549

-13.04%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$3.58 CLP 3,432

-36.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$10.17 CLP 9,755

59.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$6.48 CLP 6,215

-55.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.43 CLP 11.0K

-17.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.88 CLP 1,804

42.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.31

$1.61 CLP 1,547

-32.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.9

$1.70 CLP 1,628

-4.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.66

$1.65 CLP 1,584

-11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.57

$1.60 CLP 1,534

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.25

$1.49 CLP 1,433

-28.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.90

$1.30 CLP 1,248

-44.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$1.18 CLP 1,134

-55.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.12 CLP 4,905

-17.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿610

$4.95 CLP 4,747

269.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.54 CLP 1,474

5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.23 CLP 2,140

30.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.26

$0.61 CLP 587

44.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,791

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.07

$0.70 CLP 667

67.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$1.44 CLP 1,378

0.69%

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

$21.0K ฿700.1K

$17.9K CLP 17.2M

17.32%

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

$26.4K ฿880.5K

$19.5K CLP 18.7M

35.80%

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

$63.7 ฿2,121

$130 CLP 124.5K

-50.96%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$13.47 CLP 12.9K

-4.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿684

$22.21 CLP 21.3K

-7.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,300

$38.39 CLP 36.8K

1.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$22.60 CLP 21.7K

-82.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.53 CLP 5,306

18.99%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$383 CLP 367.2K

104.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.9K

$8,372 CLP 8.0M

75.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,836

$47.05 CLP 45.1K

17.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$24.64 CLP 23.6K

0.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,136

$62.2 CLP 59.7K

51.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,464

$83.9 CLP 80.4K

-11.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$473 CLP 453.9K

3.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,602

$373 CLP 357.8K

-22.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$877 CLP 840.9K

1.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$582 CLP 558.3K

-10.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.8K

$2,309 CLP 2.2M

-14.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.01

11.18%

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 Pedro de Atacama: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $473 in San Pedro de Atacama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $228 in San Pedro de Atacama – so San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Pedro de Atacama costs about 15% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,602 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 Pedro de Atacama – 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 $932, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,068. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Pedro de Atacama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,068 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 Pedro de Atacama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.