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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $952 per month in Curico vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,404 per month in Curico vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Curico vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Curico costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Curico and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Curico 28% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 CLP 4,469

$2.04 ฿68.2

135.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.79 CLP 30.5K

$18.71 ฿624

75.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 CLP 6,913

$7.86 ฿262

-5.47%

Cappuccino

$3.29 CLP 3,057

$2.03 ฿67.7

62.07%

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

$1.59 CLP 1,477

$0.80 ฿26.64

98.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 991

$0.35 ฿11.68

205.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 CLP 2,988

$2.14 ฿71.5

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 CLP 3,331

$3.67 ฿122

-2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,137

$1.73 ฿57.6

-29.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 CLP 1,430

$1.57 ฿52.4

-1.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,787

$1.20 ฿39.99

60.00%

Eggs

$2.27 CLP 2,112

$1.97 ฿65.8

15.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.39 CLP 9,667

$16.23 ฿541

-35.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 CLP 6,155

$3.06 ฿102

116.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 CLP 10.1K

$10.80 ฿360

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,961

$2.77 ฿92.3

-23.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,459

$1.17 ฿38.94

34.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 CLP 1,909

$1.71 ฿57.0

19.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,747

$1.59 ฿53.2

18.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,816

$1.39 ฿46.51

40.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,581

$1.16 ฿38.56

46.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 CLP 1,198

$0.66 ฿22.05

95.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 CLP 873

$0.52 ฿17.31

80.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 CLP 5,425

$4.65 ฿155

25.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.15 CLP 5,718

$17.78 ฿593

-65.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,508

$1.79 ฿59.6

-9.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 CLP 2,417

$3.34 ฿111

-22.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 543

$0.91 ฿30.27

-36.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 473

$1.41 ฿47.04

-63.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CLP 1,349

$1.34 ฿44.70

8.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.61 CLP 10.8K

$8.11 ฿270

43.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 CLP 1,316

$1.23 ฿41.16

14.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.7K CLP 18.3M

$21.4K ฿715.1K

-8.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.8K CLP 21.2M

$21.8K ฿728.0K

4.53%

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

$134 CLP 124.9K

$71.3 ฿2,379

88.21%

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

$10.90 CLP 10.1K

$14.01 ฿467

-22.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.80 CLP 20.3K

$17.93 ฿598

21.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.07 CLP 36.3K

$40.82 ฿1,362

-4.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 CLP 19.8K

$6.88 ฿230

209.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 CLP 5,973

$5.72 ฿191

12.24%

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

$439 CLP 408.1K

$308 ฿10.3K

42.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,696 CLP 8.1M

$14.7K ฿489.7K

-40.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 CLP 50.9K

$55.8 ฿1,860

-1.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.52 CLP 30.3K

$26.04 ฿869

24.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.52 CLP 34.9K

$84.8 ฿2,829

-55.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.44 CLP 46.0K

$71.0 ฿2,368

-30.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 CLP 413.4K

$423 ฿14.1K

4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 CLP 277.9K

$242 ฿8,088

23.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 CLP 577.9K

$797 ฿26.6K

-22.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 CLP 371.8K

$507 ฿16.9K

-21.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$474 CLP 440.7K

$595 ฿19.9K

-20.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Curico: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Curico versus $423 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 26% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $33.00 in Curico versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Curico vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Curico 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

Curico vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Curico costs about 12% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,428 per month in Curico and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. 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 $33.00 in Curico and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Curico – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Curico at $952. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Curico it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $952 in Curico. 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, Curico makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.