🙂A single person spends $567 per month in Coquimbo vs $926 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $936 per month in Coquimbo vs $1,381 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,305 per month in Coquimbo vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Coquimbo is about 39% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Coquimbo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Coquimbo58% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.81CLP 6,742
$2.10฿70.6
224.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.62CLP 45.2K
$19.22฿645
137.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.28CLP 6,215
$5.47฿184
14.81%
Cappuccino
$3.66CLP 3,617
$1.69฿56.6
116.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17CLP 1,158
$0.65฿21.71
80.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06CLP 1,048
$0.31฿10.32
241.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.04CLP 3,995
$2.32฿77.8
74.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73CLP 4,685
$3.91฿131
20.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05CLP 1,044
$2.07฿69.3
-49.28%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19CLP 3,157
$1.53฿51.4
108.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26CLP 1,245
$1.25฿41.93
0.80%
Eggs
$2.68CLP 2,649
$2.19฿73.6
22.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.35CLP 8,260
$15.94฿535
-47.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$2.76฿92.7
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.74฿327
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.37CLP 1,353
$2.66฿89.1
-48.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91CLP 1,892
$1.05฿35.32
81.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05CLP 1,038
$1.66฿55.6
-36.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.96CLP 948
$1.48฿49.49
-35.14%
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.21฿40.73
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.27CLP 1,257
$1.10฿36.95
15.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60CLP 593
$0.76฿25.50
-21.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35CLP 1,337
$0.50฿16.66
170.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.05CLP 5,002
$4.38฿147
15.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.45CLP 8,363
$17.50฿587
-51.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66฿55.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73CLP 4,681
$2.78฿93.2
70.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86CLP 851
$0.86฿28.88
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.7฿1,803
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.22฿40.87
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.56฿18.80
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.34฿78.6
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43CLP 1,412
$1.45฿48.57
-1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K฿706.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.3K฿882.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105CLP 103.6K
$63.6฿2,133
64.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.18CLP 12.1K
$12.56฿422
-3.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$20.04฿672
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.14CLP 25.9K
$38.73฿1,299
-32.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.10CLP 5,047
$3.80฿127
34.21%
Cinema Ticket
$4.02CLP 3,979
$6.47฿217
-37.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$255CLP 252.2K
$777฿26.1K
-67.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.4KCLP 29.1M
$14.6K฿489.1K
101.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.59CLP 45.1K
$55.2฿1,853
-17.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.39CLP 25.1K
$24.77฿831
2.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.4CLP 60.8K
$90.3฿3,029
-31.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1CLP 80.3K
$73.5฿2,467
10.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$466฿15.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$286฿9,601
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$866฿29.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$525฿17.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,978฿66.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,461฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617CLP 610.4K
$581฿19.5K
6.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.57
-10.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquimbo: September 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 6% higher in Coquimbo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Coquimbo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $158 in Coquimbo vs $238 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?
Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than Coquimbo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $850 per month in Coquimbo and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Coquimbo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 51% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Coquimbo or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Coquimbo, where all-in costs run around $567, than in Chiang Mai at $926. In Coquimbo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai 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. Coquimbo costs $567 versus $926 in Chiang Mai. 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 Coquimbo. 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.