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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,061 per month in Valdivia vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,606 per month in Valdivia vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,150 per month in Valdivia vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Valdivia costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Valdivia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 23% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.49 CLP 6,108

$2.10 ฿69.3

209.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.88 CLP 45.1K

$19.84 ฿656

141.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 CLP 6,503

$5.79 ฿191

19.34%

Cappuccino

$2.12 CLP 2,000

$1.83 ฿60.4

15.85%

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

$2.13 CLP 2,005

$0.78 ฿25.61

173.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 CLP 1,286

$0.31 ฿10.37

341.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 CLP 3,433

$2.34 ฿77.2

55.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 CLP 3,562

$3.70 ฿122

2.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,150

$2.03 ฿67.1

-39.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 CLP 1,296

$1.60 ฿52.7

-13.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,588

$1.42 ฿46.75

19.01%

Eggs

$3.06 CLP 2,879

$2.18 ฿71.9

40.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.51 CLP 8,949

$15.91 ฿526

-40.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 CLP 6,150

$3.07 ฿102

112.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.45 CLP 12.7K

$9.87 ฿326

36.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 CLP 2,169

$2.63 ฿86.8

-12.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,798

$1.10 ฿36.19

73.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,780

$1.63 ฿53.8

15.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,759

$1.53 ฿50.6

22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CLP 2,301

$1.24 ฿41.13

96.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,526

$1.13 ฿37.37

43.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 CLP 1,467

$0.74 ฿24.38

110.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,142

$0.50 ฿16.48

142.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 CLP 5,121

$4.28 ฿141

27.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 CLP 4,498

$17.97 ฿594

-73.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CLP 1,500

$1.70 ฿56.1

-6.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,999

$2.90 ฿95.7

-26.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 550

$0.94 ฿31.13

-38.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 CLP 983

$1.23 ฿40.76

-15.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 CLP 1,384

$1.44 ฿47.55

2.08%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.7M

$21.2K ฿700.2K

-26.42%

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

$18.3K CLP 17.2M

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-32.97%

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

$95.1 CLP 89.5K

$64.9 ฿2,145

46.53%

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

$14.29 CLP 13.4K

$13.35 ฿441

7.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.63 CLP 30.7K

$20.83 ฿688

56.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.16 CLP 39.7K

$40.42 ฿1,336

4.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.53 CLP 23.1K

$3.95 ฿131

521.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 CLP 4,497

$6.71 ฿222

-28.76%

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

$255 CLP 240.4K

$787 ฿26.0K

-67.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,226 CLP 3.0M

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-78.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 CLP 50.3K

$56.2 ฿1,858

-4.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.73 CLP 17.6K

$24.95 ฿824

-24.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 CLP 49.6K

$92.7 ฿3,063

-43.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 CLP 76.2K

$75.1 ฿2,482

7.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 CLP 574.3K

$484 ฿16.0K

26.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 CLP 366.3K

$287 ฿9,491

35.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 CLP 961.8K

$910 ฿30.1K

12.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 CLP 547.7K

$531 ฿17.5K

9.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,742 CLP 4.5M

$1,980 ฿65.4K

139.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 CLP 620.3K

$605 ฿20.0K

8.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.57

-19.21%

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

Last update for Valdivia: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $610 in Valdivia versus $484 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 9% higher in Valdivia, 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 $48.00 in Valdivia versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Valdivia vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Valdivia 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

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

Valdivia costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,592 per month in Valdivia and $1,426 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 $48.00 in Valdivia and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Valdivia – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Valdivia at $1,061. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valdivia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,061 in Valdivia. 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, Valdivia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.