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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,072 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,625 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,178 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% 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 36% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$7.09 CLP 6,280

-72.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$43.61 CLP 38.6K

-57.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$7.83 CLP 6,938

0.51%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$2.74 CLP 2,431

-28.83%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$1.57 CLP 1,390

-45.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$1.18 CLP 1,045

-72.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$3.55 CLP 3,144

-39.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$4.04 CLP 3,581

-8.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.24 CLP 1,101

33.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$1.53 CLP 1,356

1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.65 CLP 1,458

-27.88%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$3.60 CLP 3,185

-44.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$10.31 CLP 9,134

57.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$6.79 CLP 6,015

-53.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$11.66 CLP 10.3K

-7.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.92 CLP 1,697

38.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.60 CLP 1,418

-23.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$1.76 CLP 1,556

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.72 CLP 1,519

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.61 CLP 1,422

-17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.49 CLP 1,318

-18.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$1.33 CLP 1,180

-48.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$1.18 CLP 1,042

-51.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$5.34 CLP 4,732

-12.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$5.01 CLP 4,440

239.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.54 CLP 1,362

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.13 CLP 1,888

49.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.57 CLP 509

59.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.69 CLP 613

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.42 CLP 1,261

-9.86%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$17.9K CLP 15.9M

21.67%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$19.2K CLP 17.0M

16.53%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$131 CLP 115.7K

-46.06%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$13.69 CLP 12.1K

2.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$21.64 CLP 19.2K

-18.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$39.28 CLP 34.8K

5.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$23.03 CLP 20.4K

-70.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$5.48 CLP 4,854

8.76%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$385 CLP 341.0K

-21.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$46.40 CLP 41.1K

17.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$24.60 CLP 21.8K

6.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$62.0 CLP 54.9K

38.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$83.4 CLP 73.9K

-16.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$479 CLP 424.6K

-10.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$375 CLP 331.8K

-36.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$891 CLP 789.1K

-8.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$586 CLP 519.5K

-13.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$2,317 CLP 2.1M

-12.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

-0.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $479 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $233 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 26% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,608 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 $18.00 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 4% 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 $848, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,072. 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 $848 versus $1,072 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.