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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Coquimbo vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,617 per month in Coquimbo vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,165 per month in Coquimbo vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Coquimbo costs about 25% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Coquimbo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Coquimbo 20% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.59 CLP 7,642
$1.96 ฿64.0
338.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.78 CLP 38.9K
$18.81 ฿615
132.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.91 CLP 7,030
$7.92 ฿259
-0.13%
Cappuccino
$2.70 CLP 2,405
$1.91 ฿62.6
41.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 CLP 1,200
$0.84 ฿27.41
60.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 CLP 901
$0.35 ฿11.51
188.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 CLP 2,841
$2.21 ฿72.1
44.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 CLP 3,688
$3.80 ฿124
9.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 CLP 971
$1.64 ฿53.5
-33.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 CLP 1,402
$1.62 ฿53.1
-2.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 CLP 1,651
$1.18 ฿38.62
57.63%
Eggs
$3.51 CLP 3,121
$2.01 ฿65.8
74.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 CLP 9,162
$15.89 ฿520
-35.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.50 CLP 5,779
$3.01 ฿98.5
115.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 CLP 9,845
$10.77 ฿352
2.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 CLP 1,601
$2.61 ฿85.5
-31.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 CLP 1,407
$1.22 ฿39.88
29.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,416
$1.70 ฿55.7
-6.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 CLP 1,332
$1.58 ฿51.5
-5.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 CLP 1,140
$1.32 ฿43.14
-3.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 CLP 1,203
$1.17 ฿38.23
15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 CLP 1,135
$0.67 ฿21.98
91.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 CLP 1,043
$0.56 ฿18.32
108.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36 CLP 4,763
$4.53 ฿148
18.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.14 CLP 8,131
$18.20 ฿595
-49.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 CLP 1,396
$1.83 ฿60.0
-14.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 CLP 1,961
$3.23 ฿106
-31.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 CLP 549
$0.89 ฿29.00
-30.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.38 ฿634
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 CLP 454
$1.35 ฿44.20
-62.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.35 ฿44.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.25 ฿270
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 CLP 1,233
$1.27 ฿41.64
9.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K CLP 17.2M
$21.2K ฿691.8K
-8.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K CLP 18.9M
$22.5K ฿735.3K
-5.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 CLP 119.3K
$70.2 ฿2,294
91.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.41 CLP 11.9K
$13.77 ฿450
-2.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.84 CLP 19.4K
$17.60 ฿575
24.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.75 CLP 34.5K
$41.57 ฿1,360
-6.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.16 CLP 18.8K
$6.60 ฿216
220.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.81 CLP 5,171
$5.78 ฿189
0.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 CLP 383.3K
$306 ฿10.0K
40.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0 CLP 44.5K
$54.4 ฿1,778
-8.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.98 CLP 26.7K
$26.14 ฿855
14.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.8 CLP 54.9K
$84.5 ฿2,764
-26.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 CLP 73.8K
$69.4 ฿2,270
19.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 CLP 419.4K
$424 ฿13.9K
11.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 CLP 330.6K
$238 ฿7,788
56.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$878 CLP 780.4K
$825 ฿27.0K
6.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$584 CLP 519.6K
$515 ฿16.8K
13.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$661 CLP 587.7K
$635 ฿20.8K
4.05%
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 Coquimbo: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $472 in Coquimbo versus $424 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 4% higher in Coquimbo, 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 $44.00 in Coquimbo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Coquimbo vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Coquimbo 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
Coquimbo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Coquimbo or Chiang Mai?
Coquimbo costs about 25% 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 Coquimbo vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,602 per month in Coquimbo and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Coquimbo and $19.00 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 Coquimbo or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Coquimbo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Coquimbo or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Coquimbo at $1,068. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Coquimbo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Coquimbo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,068 in Coquimbo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Coquimbo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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