Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Willemstad

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $2,017 in Willemstad, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
97

Cost of Living Index in Willemstad
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Willemstad Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Willemstad

🇨🇼 Curacao

$2,017

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Willemstad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,017 in Willemstad, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Willemstad $2,017

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,102 in Willemstad, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Willemstad $3,102

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,187 in Willemstad, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Willemstad $4,187

Chiang Mai is about 54% cheaper than Willemstad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Willemstad is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$18.52 ANG 33.15

-87.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$75.2 ANG 135

-73.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$11.02 ANG 19.73

-49.09%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$3.63 ANG 6.50

-54.27%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$2.94 ANG 5.26

-76.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$1.74 ANG 3.12

-82.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$5.76 ANG 10.31

-58.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$5.46 ANG 9.78

-32.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$2.00 ANG 3.58

-2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$2.86 ANG 5.12

-50.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$3.57 ANG 6.40

-63.31%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$4.15 ANG 7.42

-47.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$16.60 ANG 29.71

0.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$7.23 ANG 12.94

-61.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$11.97 ANG 21.43

-23.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$5.44 ANG 9.74

-56.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$3.03 ANG 5.42

-66.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$3.33 ANG 5.96

-51.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$3.82 ANG 6.83

-60.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$2.53 ANG 4.52

-49.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.98 ANG 3.54

-43.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$2.44 ANG 4.37

-70.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$2.93 ANG 5.24

-81.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$10.16 ANG 18.18

-57.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$12.32 ANG 22.05

45.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$2.35 ANG 4.21

-32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$2.40 ANG 4.30

18.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$1.92 ANG 3.44

-55.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$22.77 ANG 40.76

-94.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.35 ANG 2.41

6.67%

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

$20.4K ANG 36.5K

31.33%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$272 ANG 487

-77.09%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$77.1 ANG 138

-84.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$64.6 ANG 116

-69.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$47.22 ANG 84.5

-21.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$43.82 ANG 78.4

-91.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$11.92 ANG 21.33

-45.47%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$328 ANG 587

141.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$12.3K ANG 22.0K

20.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$104 ANG 186

-48.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$73.8 ANG 132

-66.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$164 ANG 293

-44.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$94.1 ANG 168

-24.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$797 ANG 1,426

-42.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$645 ANG 1,155

-53.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$1,690 ANG 3,025

-46.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$1,204 ANG 2,155

-54.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$837 ANG 1,498

130.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$165 ANG 296

773.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$1,238 ANG 2,217

-52.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.97

12.07%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Willemstad: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Willemstad

$645 32% 117% $348

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Willemstad

$377 18.7% 60% $141

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Willemstad

$196 9.7% 81.3% $88

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Willemstad

$414 20.5% 338% $319

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Willemstad

$283 14.1% 260% $205

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Willemstad

$30 * 1.5% 49.9% $30

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Willemstad

$71 3.5% 41.9% $21

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $797 in Willemstad. 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 110% higher in Willemstad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $75.0 in Willemstad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $377 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇼 Willemstad

🕒 Local time

01:42 1:42 AM

14:42 2:42 PM

11 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

140,000 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Netherlands Antillean Guilder ANG ƒ

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 ANG = 0.559 USD

1 ANG = 0.497 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ANG, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 ANG (1 ANG = 0.497 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Willemstad 16,330 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Willemstad

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 Willemstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Willemstad costs about 118% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,025 in Willemstad. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $75.0 in Willemstad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Willemstad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Willemstad at $2,017. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Willemstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $2,017 in Willemstad. 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, Willemstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.