Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Villarrica

For one person, living is cheaper in Villarrica: $406 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
51

Cost of Living Index in Villarrica
Learn more

Villarrica Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Villarrica

🇨🇱 Chile

$406

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Villarrica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Villarrica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $406 in Villarrica, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Villarrica $406

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $608 in Villarrica, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Villarrica $608

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $811 in Villarrica, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Villarrica $811

Chiang Mai costs about 128% more than Villarrica, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Villarrica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Villarrica 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.34 CLP 2,303

-29.06%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$1.55 CLP 1,528

-54.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$1.01 CLP 990

-69.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$2.50 CLP 2,465

-3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$4.50 CLP 4,431

-17.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.24 CLP 1,223

57.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$2.58 CLP 2,535

-45.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$2.41 CLP 2,374

-45.64%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$3.03 CLP 2,986

-28.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$8.26 CLP 8,134

101.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$10.72 CLP 10.5K

-74.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$2.56 CLP 2,525

-6.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.80 CLP 1,775

-42.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.69 CLP 2,648

-39.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.38 CLP 1,363

8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.47 CLP 1,448

-12.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.21 CLP 1,189

-8.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$1.56 CLP 1,538

-53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$1.95 CLP 1,924

-72.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$5.50 CLP 5,417

226.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$3.52 CLP 3,469

-19.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$1.81 CLP 1,777

-52.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$2.02 CLP 1,984

-40.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$2.02 CLP 1,989

-71.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$62.1 CLP 61.1K

0.34%

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

$12.11 ฿405

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$30.23 CLP 29.8K

22.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

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

$793 ฿26.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$509 CLP 501.0K

16.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Villarrica

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Villarrica

$234 * 57.7% 0.5% $1.3

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Villarrica

- * 0% 100%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Villarrica

$62 * 15.3% 34.2% $32

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Villarrica

$60 * 14.8% 23.9% $19

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Villarrica

$19 * 4.8% 68.2% $41

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Villarrica

$30 * 7.5% 39.6% $20

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 16% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇱 Villarrica

🕒 Local time

19:37 7:37 PM

09:37 9:37 AM

10 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

31,780

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.16 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Villarrica 17,590 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Villarrica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Chiang Mai costs about 128% more than Villarrica, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $609 in Villarrica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $925 in Chiang Mai and $406 in Villarrica. That's a gap of about 128%.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Villarrica costs $406 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. 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 Villarrica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.