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 $1,073 per month in Coquimbo vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,670 per month in Coquimbo vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,267 per month in Coquimbo vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Coquimbo costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Coquimbo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Coquimbo 22% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.34 CLP 6,770
$2.11 ฿69.1
247.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.33 CLP 44.6K
$19.75 ฿648
144.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 CLP 5,970
$5.85 ฿192
10.60%
Cappuccino
$3.86 CLP 3,564
$1.76 ฿57.8
119.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 CLP 1,082
$0.74 ฿24.37
58.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 CLP 1,035
$0.33 ฿10.90
239.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.34 CLP 4,006
$2.47 ฿81.0
75.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 CLP 4,668
$3.88 ฿127
30.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 CLP 984
$1.90 ฿62.4
-43.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 CLP 1,662
$1.67 ฿54.7
7.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 CLP 1,518
$1.35 ฿44.24
22.22%
Eggs
$3.90 CLP 3,596
$2.14 ฿70.2
82.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 CLP 10.6K
$15.89 ฿521
-27.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 CLP 5,970
$2.83 ฿92.9
128.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.70 CLP 11.7K
$10.53 ฿345
20.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 CLP 1,820
$2.38 ฿78.2
-17.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 CLP 1,538
$1.07 ฿35.01
56.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 CLP 1,591
$1.52 ฿49.79
13.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 CLP 1,566
$1.50 ฿49.30
13.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 CLP 947
$1.28 ฿41.96
-19.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 CLP 1,361
$1.10 ฿36.17
34.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 CLP 1,245
$0.69 ฿22.54
95.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 CLP 1,081
$0.49 ฿16.18
138.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54 CLP 5,114
$4.27 ฿140
29.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.97 CLP 5,509
$16.78 ฿550
-64.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CLP 1,439
$1.66 ฿54.4
-6.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 CLP 2,104
$2.81 ฿92.3
-18.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 CLP 785
$0.90 ฿29.44
-5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.9 ฿1,801
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 CLP 765
$1.20 ฿39.24
-30.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.54 ฿17.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.37 ฿77.9
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 CLP 1,369
$1.43 ฿46.88
3.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K CLP 18.3M
$21.1K ฿691.5K
-6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K CLP 22.6M
$27.1K ฿890.2K
-9.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 CLP 110.2K
$64.7 ฿2,124
84.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 CLP 12.5K
$13.19 ฿433
2.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.45 CLP 18.9K
$19.44 ฿638
5.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.85 CLP 25.7K
$39.45 ฿1,294
-29.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.55 CLP 5,117
$3.77 ฿124
47.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.26 CLP 6,697
$6.62 ฿217
9.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$444 CLP 410.0K
$805 ฿26.4K
-44.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,551 CLP 7.9M
$15.1K ฿496.1K
-43.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 CLP 47.4K
$54.8 ฿1,796
-6.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.01 CLP 27.7K
$25.43 ฿834
18.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.2 CLP 55.6K
$91.9 ฿3,015
-34.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8 CLP 69.0K
$74.7 ฿2,449
0.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 CLP 472.4K
$467 ฿15.3K
9.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$425 CLP 391.9K
$282 ฿9,251
50.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 CLP 961.0K
$891 ฿29.2K
16.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$682 CLP 629.6K
$521 ฿17.1K
30.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,985 ฿65.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,462 ฿48.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$647 CLP 596.5K
$592 ฿19.4K
9.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
5.57
-7.54%

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

Last update for Coquimbo: August 16, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $512 in Coquimbo versus $467 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 9% 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 $48.00 in Coquimbo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 17% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,610 per month in Coquimbo and $1,380 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 and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Coquimbo and $20.00 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Coquimbo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Coquimbo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Coquimbo at $1,073. 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 $920 versus $1,073 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 to 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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