😐A single person spends $1,022 per month in Iquique vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,703 per month in Iquique vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,385 per month in Iquique vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Iquique costs about 20% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Iquique and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Iquique24% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.06CLP 7,169
$1.96฿64.0
311.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.07CLP 38.3K
$18.81฿615
128.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34CLP 6,527
$7.92฿259
-7.32%
Cappuccino
$3.61CLP 3,212
$1.91฿62.6
89.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29CLP 1,151
$0.84฿27.41
53.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01CLP 902
$0.35฿11.51
188.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37CLP 2,993
$2.21฿72.1
52.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66CLP 3,257
$3.80฿124
-3.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20CLP 1,069
$1.64฿53.5
-26.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18CLP 1,049
$1.62฿53.1
-27.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42CLP 1,265
$1.18฿38.62
20.34%
Eggs
$3.57CLP 3,176
$2.01฿65.8
77.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.33CLP 9,189
$15.89฿520
-34.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71CLP 5,968
$3.01฿98.5
122.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.91CLP 9,704
$10.77฿352
1.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82CLP 1,620
$2.61฿85.5
-30.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33CLP 2,075
$1.22฿39.88
90.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59CLP 1,412
$1.70฿55.7
-6.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14CLP 1,018
$1.58฿51.5
-27.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79CLP 700
$1.32฿43.14
-40.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67CLP 596
$1.17฿38.23
-42.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21CLP 1,075
$0.67฿21.98
80.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17CLP 1,041
$0.56฿18.32
108.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47CLP 4,866
$4.53฿148
20.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.53CLP 7,585
$18.20฿595
-53.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62CLP 1,439
$1.83฿60.0
-11.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31CLP 2,057
$3.23฿106
-28.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68CLP 606
$0.89฿29.00
-23.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿634
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47CLP 417
$1.35฿44.20
-65.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.35฿44.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.25฿270
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43CLP 1,276
$1.27฿41.64
12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KCLP 17.5M
$21.2K฿691.8K
-7.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KCLP 19.3M
$22.5K฿735.3K
-3.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.6CLP 72.6K
$70.2฿2,294
16.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.41CLP 11.9K
$13.77฿450
-2.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.05CLP 19.6K
$17.60฿575
25.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.65CLP 38.8K
$41.57฿1,360
5.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.59CLP 19.2K
$6.60฿216
227.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60CLP 4,982
$5.78฿189
-3.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438CLP 389.4K
$306฿10.0K
43.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K฿484.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.79CLP 29.2K
$54.4฿1,778
-39.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.41CLP 21.7K
$26.14฿855
-6.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.76CLP 42.5K
$84.5฿2,764
-43.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.9CLP 55.0K
$69.4฿2,270
-10.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438CLP 389.6K
$424฿13.9K
3.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395CLP 351.6K
$238฿7,788
66.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757CLP 673.3K
$825฿27.0K
-8.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$838CLP 745.1K
$515฿16.8K
62.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,893CLP 1.7M
$2,049฿67.0K
-7.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,160CLP 1.9M
$1,523฿49.8K
41.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iquique
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,024CLP 910.4K
$635฿20.8K
61.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
5
50.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Iquique: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Iquique versus $424 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 61% higher in Iquique, 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 $43.00 in Iquique versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Iquique vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Iquique wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Iquique vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Iquique or Chiang Mai?
Iquique costs about 20% 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 Iquique vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,532 per month in Iquique and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Iquique 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 dining costs compare in Iquique vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Iquique 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 Iquique or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Iquique – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Iquique or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,022 in Iquique and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Iquique or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,022 in Iquique. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Iquique 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 Iquique or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iquique makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Iquique vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado