Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto del Rosario and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto del Rosario and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,507 per month in Puerto del Rosario vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,170 per month in Puerto del Rosario vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,834 per month in Puerto del Rosario vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Puerto del Rosario costs about 74% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Puerto del Rosario sits 12% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.05 €10.36
$1.94 ฿63.5
521.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 €50.3
$18.64 ฿609
213.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 €8.08
$7.82 ฿255
20.08%
Cappuccino
$2.31 €1.99
$1.95 ฿63.8
18.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.80
$0.85 ฿27.77
145.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 €1.07
$0.35 ฿11.58
254.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.87 €2.47
$2.13 ฿69.6
34.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 €3.62
$3.73 ฿122
12.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.71 ฿56.0
-30.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
$1.63 ฿53.2
29.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.14 ฿37.15
79.82%
Eggs
$3.33 €2.87
$1.93 ฿63.1
72.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.78 €10.14
$16.21 ฿530
-27.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 €7.93
$3.12 ฿102
195.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.24 €14.83
$10.90 ฿356
58.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 €2.06
$2.75 ฿90.0
-13.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.50 €2.15
$1.21 ฿39.52
106.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 €1.91
$1.62 ฿53.0
37.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 €1.83
$1.59 ฿51.8
33.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$1.40 ฿45.70
21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 €2.39
$1.17 ฿38.17
137.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 €1.52
$0.66 ฿21.60
166.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 €0.51
$0.53 ฿17.22
11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50 €3.87
$4.69 ฿153
-4.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.84 €5.02
$18.66 ฿609
-68.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 €0.99
$1.80 ฿58.8
-36.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 €0.88
$3.23 ฿106
-68.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 €1.38
$0.90 ฿29.26
77.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.60 €29.77
$19.21 ฿628
80.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 €2.95
$1.41 ฿45.91
142.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 €1.84
$1.29 ฿42.12
65.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.27 €20.02
$7.84 ฿256
196.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.27 ฿41.58
29.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K €33.1K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
81.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K €25.4K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
33.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.3 €58.7
$69.1 ฿2,256
-1.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.94 €17.15
$14.08 ฿460
41.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.90 €25.72
$18.00 ฿588
66.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 €45.33
$41.06 ฿1,341
28.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.83 €12.75
$6.96 ฿227
113.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.21 €7.92
$5.92 ฿193
55.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$523 €450
$299 ฿9,766
75.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,417 €5,520
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-57.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €86.9
$54.7 ฿1,787
84.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 €44.11
$26.77 ฿874
91.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 €64.0
$85.0 ฿2,776
-12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 €83.1
$70.6 ฿2,306
36.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$814 €700
$428 ฿14.0K
90.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$636 €547
$237 ฿7,752
167.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,041 €895
$801 ฿26.2K
29.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$823 €708
$515 ฿16.8K
59.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto del Rosario
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.43
5
-31.40%

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

Last update for Puerto del Rosario: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $814 in Puerto del Rosario 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 $58.0 in Puerto del Rosario versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $246 – 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
Puerto del Rosario vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Puerto del Rosario or Chiang Mai?
Puerto del Rosario costs about 74% 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 Puerto del Rosario vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,260 per month in Puerto del Rosario 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, Puerto del Rosario 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 Puerto del Rosario and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $523 per month in Puerto del Rosario 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 Puerto del Rosario or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Puerto del Rosario, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Puerto del Rosario or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Puerto del Rosario at $1,507. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto del Rosario it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Puerto del Rosario or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,507 in Puerto del Rosario. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Puerto del Rosario 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 Puerto del Rosario or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puerto del Rosario makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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