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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,080 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,613 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,145 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 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$7.15 CLP 6,401

-72.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$43.58 CLP 39.0K

-56.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$7.92 CLP 7,098

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$2.86 CLP 2,562

-33.22%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$1.60 CLP 1,433

-47.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$1.20 CLP 1,078

-70.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$3.60 CLP 3,227

-38.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.01 CLP 3,590

-5.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.19 CLP 1,065

37.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.53 CLP 1,373

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$1.68 CLP 1,506

-29.76%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$3.63 CLP 3,248

-44.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$10.05 CLP 9,003

58.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$6.87 CLP 6,151

-56.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$11.69 CLP 10.5K

-7.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$1.98 CLP 1,770

31.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.61 CLP 1,439

-24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.69 CLP 1,514

0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.74 CLP 1,554

-9.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$1.58 CLP 1,411

-16.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.55 CLP 1,388

-24.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.35 CLP 1,212

-50.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$1.24 CLP 1,112

-54.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$5.35 CLP 4,794

-15.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$5.15 CLP 4,616

253.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.56 CLP 1,399

17.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.26 CLP 2,020

42.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.61 CLP 547

45.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$0.69 CLP 622

95.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.42 CLP 1,272

-10.56%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$17.7K CLP 15.9M

19.23%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$19.8K CLP 17.7M

13.51%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$134 CLP 120.2K

-47.74%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$13.62 CLP 12.2K

1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$22.10 CLP 19.8K

-20.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$39.14 CLP 35.1K

6.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$23.22 CLP 20.8K

-71.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$5.38 CLP 4,814

7.43%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$383 CLP 342.8K

-20.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$47.88 CLP 42.9K

13.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$24.60 CLP 22.0K

6.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$61.4 CLP 55.0K

37.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$82.0 CLP 73.4K

-15.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$488 CLP 436.9K

-13.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$372 CLP 333.2K

-35.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$898 CLP 804.0K

-8.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$583 CLP 522.3K

-11.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

$2,328 CLP 2.1M

-11.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $488 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $234 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 27% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,620 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 $19.00 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 $852, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,080. 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 $852 versus $1,080 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.