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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,100 in Villarrica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,675 in Villarrica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,250 in Villarrica, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Villarrica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Villarrica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Villarrica 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$8.51 CLP 7,614

-77.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$45.16 CLP 40.4K

-58.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.21 CLP 7,343

-4.75%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.72 CLP 2,435

-28.31%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.31 CLP 1,168

-35.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.06 CLP 947

-66.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.15 CLP 2,818

-32.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.11 CLP 3,674

-9.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.23 CLP 1,100

39.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.56 CLP 1,397

4.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.88 CLP 1,684

-39.36%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.55 CLP 3,176

-45.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.40 CLP 9,306

55.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.49 CLP 5,805

-51.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.94 CLP 9,785

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.81 CLP 1,617

51.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.57 CLP 1,408

-22.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.60 CLP 1,429

1.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.51 CLP 1,347

5.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.30 CLP 1,160

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.41 CLP 1,264

-17.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.26 CLP 1,124

-47.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.24 CLP 1,105

-57.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$5.44 CLP 4,869

-13.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$6.29 CLP 5,625

196.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.55 CLP 1,387

16.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.23 CLP 1,997

44.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.63 CLP 560

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.51 CLP 453

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$2.07 CLP 1,854

-37.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.38 CLP 1,231

-7.97%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$19.7K CLP 17.6M

7.97%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$21.7K CLP 19.4M

2.43%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$131 CLP 117.2K

-47.26%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.53 CLP 12.1K

4.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.17 CLP 19.8K

-18.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$37.83 CLP 33.8K

8.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$21.49 CLP 19.2K

-67.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.51 CLP 4,933

7.44%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$438 CLP 392.0K

-31.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$51.4 CLP 46.0K

6.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$30.16 CLP 27.0K

-11.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$62.7 CLP 56.1K

35.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$83.4 CLP 74.6K

-15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$473 CLP 422.8K

-9.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$368 CLP 328.9K

-35.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$886 CLP 792.5K

-9.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$602 CLP 538.4K

-14.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$558 CLP 499.6K

10.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

-3.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $473 in Villarrica. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Villarrica. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $230 in Villarrica – so Villarrica 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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Villarrica 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,650 in Villarrica. 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 $45.00 in Villarrica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Villarrica – 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 $866, than in Villarrica at $1,100. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villarrica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,100 in Villarrica. 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, Villarrica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.