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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,047 per month in Escazu vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,851 per month in Escazu vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,655 per month in Escazu vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Escazu costs about 140% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Escazu sits 54% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.73 ₡4,830

$2.04 ฿68.4

425.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 ₡27.4K

$18.71 ฿626

225.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.79 ₡4,406

$7.86 ฿263

24.55%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₡1,751

$2.03 ฿67.9

91.63%

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

$1.98 ₡891

$0.80 ฿26.71

147.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡743

$0.35 ฿11.71

371.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.00 ₡1,349

$2.14 ฿71.7

40.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 ₡2,069

$3.67 ฿123

25.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡879

$1.73 ฿57.8

12.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,243

$1.57 ฿52.5

75.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ₡992

$1.20 ฿40.10

83.33%

Eggs

$3.03 ₡1,362

$1.97 ฿66.0

53.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 ₡4,567

$16.23 ฿543

-37.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 ₡4,059

$3.06 ฿102

194.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ₡6,072

$10.80 ฿361

24.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,966

$2.77 ฿92.6

57.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡686

$1.17 ฿39.05

29.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,967

$1.71 ฿57.1

155.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 ₡1,478

$1.59 ฿53.3

106.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ₡1,576

$1.39 ฿46.63

151.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,460

$1.16 ฿38.67

179.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡429

$0.66 ฿22.11

43.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,321

$0.52 ฿17.35

465.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 ₡2,279

$4.65 ฿155

8.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.00 ₡8,551

$17.78 ฿595

6.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₡779

$1.79 ฿59.8

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₡1,212

$3.34 ฿112

-19.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 ₡436

$0.91 ฿30.35

6.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 ₡788

$1.41 ฿47.17

24.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡805

$1.34 ฿44.82

33.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,497

$8.11 ฿271

-4.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡636

$1.23 ฿41.27

14.63%

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

$31.1K ₡14.0M

$21.4K ฿717.0K

44.97%

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

$32.0K ₡14.4M

$21.8K ฿730.0K

46.52%

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

$66.7 ₡30.0K

$71.3 ฿2,386

-6.55%

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

$25.68 ₡11.6K

$14.01 ฿469

83.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 ₡22.8K

$17.93 ฿600

183.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 ₡47.3K

$40.82 ฿1,365

157.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.18 ₡4,581

$6.88 ฿230

47.97%

Cinema Ticket

$9.82 ₡4,420

$5.72 ฿191

71.68%

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

$565 ₡254.4K

$308 ฿10.3K

83.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₡6.4M

$14.7K ฿491.0K

-2.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ₡28.1K

$55.8 ฿1,865

11.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 ₡22.8K

$26.04 ฿871

94.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡56.6K

$84.8 ฿2,837

48.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡47.7K

$71.0 ฿2,375

49.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 ₡477.7K

$423 ฿14.2K

150.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 ₡475.1K

$242 ฿8,110

335.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,652 ₡743.4K

$797 ฿26.7K

107.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 ₡585.8K

$507 ฿17.0K

156.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,380 ₡621.0K

$1,918 ฿64.2K

-28.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,232 ₡554.3K

$1,464 ฿49.0K

-15.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,783 ₡802.5K

$595 ฿19.9K

199.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

103.40%

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

Last update for Escazu: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Escazu 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 200% higher in Escazu, 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 $61.0 in Escazu versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $244 – 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

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

Escazu costs about 140% 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 $3,070 per month in Escazu 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 $61.0 in Escazu and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Escazu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Escazu at $2,047. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Escazu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,047 in Escazu. 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, Escazu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.