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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,645 per month in Iglesias vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,487 per month in Iglesias vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Iglesias vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Iglesias costs about 90% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Iglesias sits 23% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.03 €19.82
$1.94 ฿63.5
1087.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.8 €59.2
$18.64 ฿609
269.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 €9.37
$7.82 ฿255
39.26%
Cappuccino
$1.85 €1.59
$1.95 ฿63.8
-5.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 €2.52
$0.85 ฿27.77
244.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 €1.02
$0.35 ฿11.58
237.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 €4.85
$2.13 ฿69.6
164.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 €4.09
$3.73 ฿122
27.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.01
$1.71 ฿56.0
-31.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.63 ฿53.2
-30.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.14 ฿37.15
54.39%
Eggs
$3.33 €2.87
$1.93 ฿63.1
72.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.05 €14.68
$16.21 ฿530
5.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.38 €6.35
$3.12 ฿102
136.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.62 €6.56
$10.90 ฿356
-30.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.75 ฿90.0
-10.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.21 ฿39.52
44.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 €1.95
$1.62 ฿53.0
40.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 €1.53
$1.59 ฿51.8
11.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.63
$1.40 ฿45.70
35.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.17 ฿38.17
75.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 €1.20
$0.66 ฿21.60
110.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.48
$0.53 ฿17.22
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64 €5.72
$4.69 ฿153
41.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.33 €4.59
$18.66 ฿609
-71.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.80 ฿58.8
-5.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.16
$3.23 ฿106
-58.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.47
$0.90 ฿29.26
90.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.38 €37.34
$19.21 ฿628
125.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 €3.29
$1.41 ฿45.91
171.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 €0.96
$1.29 ฿42.12
-13.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.57 €25.45
$7.84 ฿256
277.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.27 ฿41.58
61.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €29.0K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
58.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K €30.2K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
58.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 €154
$69.1 ฿2,256
158.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.68 €10.06
$14.08 ฿460
-17.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.60 €26.34
$18.00 ฿588
70.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 €46.71
$41.06 ฿1,341
32.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.19 €19.96
$6.96 ฿227
233.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.09 €7.83
$5.92 ฿193
53.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$531 €457
$299 ฿9,766
77.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,832 €6,742
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-47.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.1 €80.2
$54.7 ฿1,787
70.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.4 €54.6
$26.77 ฿874
136.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 €74.0
$85.0 ฿2,776
1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €102
$70.6 ฿2,306
67.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 €651
$428 ฿14.0K
76.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$585 €504
$237 ฿7,752
146.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 €1,046
$801 ฿26.2K
51.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$924 €795
$515 ฿16.8K
79.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 €2,339
$1,975 ฿64.5K
37.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,983 €1,707
$1,475 ฿48.2K
34.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
5
-2.60%

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

Last update for Iglesias: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Iglesias versus $428 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Iglesias versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Iglesias vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Iglesias 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
Iglesias vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Iglesias or Chiang Mai?
Iglesias costs about 90% 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 Iglesias vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,468 per month in Iglesias and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Iglesias 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 childcare costs compare in Iglesias and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $531 per month in Iglesias and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Iglesias or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Iglesias – 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 Iglesias or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Iglesias at $1,645. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iglesias it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Iglesias or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,645 in Iglesias. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Iglesias 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 Iglesias or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iglesias makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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