Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santiago

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 16.7% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 38.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 5.7% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 32.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$4.39 PAB 4.39
-53.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$30.38 PAB 30.38
-38.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$4.92 PAB 4.92
52.03%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$3.67 PAB 3.67
-45.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.67 PAB 0.67
26.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.81 PAB 0.81
-56.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$0.97 PAB 0.97
127.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$1.99 PAB 1.99
88.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.88 PAB 1.88
-8.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$2.50 PAB 2.50
-34.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$2.38 PAB 2.38
-51.26%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$2.81 PAB 2.81
-29.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$11.56 PAB 11.56
37.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$7.23 PAB 7.23
-56.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$10.22 PAB 10.22
6.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$3.28 PAB 3.28
-19.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$1.49 PAB 1.49
-18.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$2.73 PAB 2.73
-37.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$3.19 PAB 3.19
-50.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$2.28 PAB 2.28
-42.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$2.76 PAB 2.76
-57.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$2.17 PAB 2.17
-68.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$1.58 PAB 1.58
-64.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$6.07 PAB 6.07
-25.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$10.56 PAB 10.56
80.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.30 PAB 1.30
36.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$2.34 PAB 2.34
35.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$2.52 PAB 2.52
-46.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$1.79 PAB 1.79
-24.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$21.68 PAB 21.68
-62.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$0.87 PAB 0.87
42.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
5.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
4.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$121 PAB 121
-40.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$15.04 PAB 15.04
-6.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$42.25 PAB 42.25
-58.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$8.09 PAB 8.09
-26.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$476 PAB 476
-35.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$15.5K PAB 15.5K
-4.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$52.1 PAB 52.1
6.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$46.79 PAB 46.79
-42.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$87.6 PAB 87.6
-4.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$121 PAB 121
-42.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$444 PAB 444
-3.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$643 PAB 643
-63.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$659 PAB 659
21.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$1,082 PAB 1,082
-53.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.23
-19.74%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Santiago: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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