😐A single person spends $1,709 per month in Vigo vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,465 per month in Vigo vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,221 per month in Vigo vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Vigo costs about 80% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Vigo sits 24% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.19€13.10
$2.10฿69.4
623.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1€54.4
$19.84฿656
218.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75€10.13
$5.79฿192
102.94%
Cappuccino
$2.27€1.96
$1.83฿60.5
24.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.24
$0.78฿25.63
233.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.54
$0.31฿10.38
474.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€3.00
$2.34฿77.3
48.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28€3.69
$3.70฿122
15.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$2.03฿67.1
-36.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39€1.20
$1.60฿52.8
-13.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.42฿46.80
40.14%
Eggs
$4.09€3.53
$2.18฿72.0
87.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.21€13.12
$15.91฿526
-4.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.07€6.96
$3.07฿102
162.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.19€15.69
$9.87฿326
84.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$2.63฿86.9
-11.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$1.10฿36.23
156.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.42€2.09
$1.63฿53.9
48.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.35
$1.53฿50.6
78.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.24฿41.16
42.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63€1.41
$1.13฿37.40
44.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.16
$0.74฿24.41
82.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.50฿16.50
72.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84€5.90
$4.28฿142
59.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01€6.04
$17.97฿594
-60.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.94
$1.70฿56.2
32.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.72
$2.90฿95.8
8.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96€1.69
$0.94฿31.15
108.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.16€36.36
$55.3฿1,828
-23.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.05
$1.23฿40.80
282.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.53฿17.67
115.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.58€20.33
$2.40฿79.4
882.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78€1.53
$1.44฿47.60
23.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$21.2K฿700.9K
83.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K€26.5K
$27.3K฿903.0K
12.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163€140
$64.9฿2,147
150.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.62€16.06
$13.35฿442
39.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.44€34.01
$20.83฿689
89.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.30€36.47
$40.42฿1,337
4.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.04€27.63
$3.95฿131
711.14%
Cinema Ticket
$11.44€9.86
$6.71฿222
70.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$535€461
$787฿26.0K
-32.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,546€7,369
$15.1K฿500.1K
-43.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.7€68.8
$56.2฿1,859
41.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.68€35.08
$24.95฿825
63.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7€77.3
$92.7฿3,066
-3.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€90.1
$75.1฿2,484
39.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$905€781
$484฿16.0K
87.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663€572
$287฿9,500
130.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,410€1,216
$910฿30.1K
55.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$967€834
$531฿17.5K
82.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,036€2,618
$1,980฿65.5K
53.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,898€1,636
$1,451฿48.0K
30.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vigo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,918€1,654
$605฿20.0K
216.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.91
5.57
-29.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vigo: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $905 in Vigo 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 217% higher in Vigo, 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 $63.0 in Vigo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $242 – 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
Vigo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vigo or Chiang Mai?
Vigo costs about 80% 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 Vigo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,563 per month in Vigo and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vigo 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 Vigo and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $535 per month in Vigo and $787 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 Vigo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Vigo, 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 Vigo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Vigo at $1,709. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vigo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vigo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,709 in Vigo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Vigo 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 Vigo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vigo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.