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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in Chillan vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,500 per month in Chillan vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,952 per month in Chillan vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Chillan costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chillan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chillan 22% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.43 CLP 5,057
$1.96 ฿65.7
177.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.87 CLP 25.0K
$18.35 ฿616
46.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.31 CLP 5,872
$7.48 ฿251
-15.64%
Cappuccino
$3.07 CLP 2,858
$2.02 ฿67.7
51.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 CLP 903
$0.85 ฿28.45
14.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 CLP 850
$0.36 ฿11.94
152.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.61 CLP 3,365
$2.14 ฿71.7
68.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 CLP 3,787
$3.59 ฿121
13.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 CLP 1,022
$1.65 ฿55.4
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 CLP 1,582
$1.57 ฿52.6
8.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 CLP 1,741
$1.19 ฿39.95
57.14%
Eggs
$3.96 CLP 3,687
$1.94 ฿65.0
104.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.73 CLP 7,194
$16.19 ฿544
-52.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.59 CLP 6,137
$2.99 ฿100
120.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.83 CLP 10.1K
$10.94 ฿367
-1.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 CLP 1,741
$2.71 ฿91.0
-31.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,405
$1.17 ฿39.18
29.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 CLP 1,412
$1.69 ฿56.6
-10.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 CLP 1,367
$1.60 ฿53.9
-8.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 CLP 1,190
$1.38 ฿46.45
-7.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 CLP 1,272
$1.20 ฿40.38
14.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 CLP 1,173
$0.67 ฿22.46
88.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 CLP 1,134
$0.56 ฿18.70
117.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44 CLP 5,068
$4.64 ฿156
17.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.39 CLP 3,161
$17.62 ฿591
-80.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 CLP 1,489
$1.86 ฿62.4
-13.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 CLP 2,163
$3.30 ฿111
-29.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 CLP 588
$0.88 ฿29.63
-28.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.34 ฿649
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 CLP 434
$1.36 ฿45.82
-65.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.34 ฿44.90
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21 ฿276
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 CLP 1,327
$1.22 ฿41.11
16.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6K CLP 11.8M
$21.4K ฿716.8K
-40.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9K CLP 14.8M
$22.5K ฿756.3K
-29.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 CLP 127.6K
$70.7 ฿2,372
93.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.69 CLP 12.7K
$14.04 ฿471
-2.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.41 CLP 22.7K
$17.49 ฿587
39.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.28 CLP 15.2K
$42.15 ฿1,415
-61.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.54 CLP 20.1K
$6.88 ฿231
213.08%
Cinema Ticket
$12.05 CLP 11.2K
$5.92 ฿199
103.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$438 CLP 408.1K
$309 ฿10.4K
42.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.9K ฿499.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98 CLP 46.5K
$55.8 ฿1,872
-10.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.14 CLP 28.1K
$26.11 ฿877
15.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.0 CLP 48.4K
$83.0 ฿2,787
-37.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.2 CLP 63.5K
$70.5 ฿2,365
-3.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 CLP 445.1K
$432 ฿14.5K
10.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 CLP 344.6K
$239 ฿8,020
54.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$452 CLP 420.6K
$822 ฿27.6K
-45.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 CLP 543.0K
$512 ฿17.2K
13.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,915 ฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,474 CLP 2.3M
$1,467 ฿49.3K
68.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chillan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$692 CLP 644.0K
$579 ฿19.4K
19.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.18
5
3.60%

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

Last update for Chillan: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Chillan versus $432 in Chiang Mai. 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 19% higher in Chillan, 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 $27.00 in Chillan versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Chillan vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Chillan 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
Chillan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chillan or Chiang Mai?
Chillan costs about 22% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chillan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,572 per month in Chillan and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chillan or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chillan and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Chillan and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chillan or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Chillan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chillan or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,048 in Chillan and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chillan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,048 in Chillan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chillan compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Chillan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chillan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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