😐A single person spends $1,644 per month in Iglesias vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,475 per month in Iglesias vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,307 per month in Iglesias vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Iglesias costs about 91% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Iglesias sits 23% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.80€19.96
$1.96฿65.8
1063.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4€61.6
$18.35฿617
283.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.79€9.45
$7.48฿252
44.25%
Cappuccino
$1.76€1.54
$2.02฿67.8
-12.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.49
$0.85฿28.50
234.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.04
$0.36฿11.96
230.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93€5.19
$2.14฿71.8
177.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.15
$3.59฿121
32.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.01
$1.65฿55.5
-30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14€1.00
$1.57฿52.7
-27.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73€1.51
$1.19฿40.02
45.38%
Eggs
$3.34€2.93
$1.94฿65.1
72.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.51€15.34
$16.19฿544
8.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.61€6.66
$2.99฿101
154.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.57€6.63
$10.94฿368
-30.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49€2.18
$2.71฿91.2
-8.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$1.17฿39.25
44.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30€2.01
$1.69฿56.7
36.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73€1.51
$1.60฿54.0
8.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82€1.59
$1.38฿46.54
31.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.88
$1.20฿40.45
79.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.24
$0.67฿22.50
110.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.56฿18.73
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.60€5.78
$4.64฿156
42.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.97€4.35
$17.62฿593
-71.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.45
$1.86฿62.5
-10.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.20
$3.30฿111
-58.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.55
$0.88฿29.68
101.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.15€38.67
$19.34฿650
128.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66€3.21
$1.36฿45.90
169.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17€1.02
$1.34฿44.98
-12.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.93€26.21
$8.21฿276
264.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.80
$1.22฿41.18
68.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$21.4K฿718.1K
62.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K€30.8K
$22.5K฿757.7K
56.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$181€158
$70.7฿2,376
156.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.73€10.27
$14.04฿472
-16.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.39€27.49
$17.49฿588
79.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2€48.31
$42.15฿1,417
30.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.99€20.14
$6.88฿231
234.16%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99€7.87
$5.92฿199
51.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$549€481
$309฿10.4K
78.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,951€6,963
$14.9K฿500.4K
-46.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.1€79.8
$55.8฿1,875
63.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7€55.8
$26.11฿878
143.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0€76.2
$83.0฿2,792
4.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$70.5฿2,369
69.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$739€647
$432฿14.5K
70.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589€516
$239฿8,035
146.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$822฿27.7K
50.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$918€804
$512฿17.2K
79.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,909€2,548
$1,915฿64.4K
51.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,327€2,038
$1,467฿49.3K
58.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iglesias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $739 in Iglesias versus $432 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 $70.0 in Iglesias versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Iglesias vs $243 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 91% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,466 per month in Iglesias and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $549 per month in Iglesias and $309 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 in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Iglesias at $1,644. 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 $861 versus $1,644 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 to 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.