🙂A single person spends $577 per month in Villanueva vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $948 per month in Villanueva vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,318 per month in Villanueva vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Villanueva is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Villanueva and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Villanueva57% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.70HNL 153
$2.03฿68.6
180.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.88HNL 986
$18.71฿633
97.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.90HNL 211
$7.84฿265
0.77%
Cappuccino
$2.27HNL 60.8
$1.93฿65.1
17.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94HNL 25.11
$0.83฿28.10
13.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18HNL 31.61
$0.35฿11.84
237.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12HNL 29.92
$2.22฿75.1
-49.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64HNL 70.7
$3.79฿128
-30.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39HNL 37.25
$1.65฿55.6
-15.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05HNL 54.9
$1.55฿52.4
32.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29HNL 34.42
$1.18฿39.93
9.32%
Eggs
$2.03HNL 54.2
$2.01฿68.1
1.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.98HNL 160
$16.16฿546
-63.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.69HNL 98.6
$3.03฿102
21.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.00HNL 214
$10.84฿366
-26.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.88HNL 76.9
$2.68฿90.6
7.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46HNL 39.12
$1.22฿41.28
19.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44HNL 38.52
$1.63฿55.0
-11.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51HNL 40.44
$1.53฿51.7
-1.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.58HNL 42.37
$1.34฿45.26
17.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42HNL 37.96
$1.21฿41.00
17.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85HNL 22.65
$0.70฿23.72
21.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72HNL 46.00
$0.53฿17.76
224.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47HNL 66.0
$4.69฿158
-47.33%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.71฿599
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28HNL 34.34
$1.85฿62.4
-30.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80HNL 48.22
$3.21฿109
-43.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿30.12
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.76฿634
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.15HNL 111
$1.41฿47.57
194.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.29฿43.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.79฿263
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02HNL 27.34
$1.29฿43.74
-20.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KHNL 519.2K
$21.8K฿736.0K
-10.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2KHNL 514.6K
$21.7K฿733.4K
-11.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.8HNL 2,187
$70.0฿2,366
16.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.06HNL 242
$14.19฿480
-36.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.00HNL 1,096
$17.42฿589
135.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.64฿1,408
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.89฿233
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.75HNL 154
$5.78฿195
-0.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$254HNL 6,788
$300฿10.1K
-15.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.5K฿491.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21HNL 1,236
$55.4฿1,872
-16.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.41HNL 974
$26.31฿890
38.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108HNL 2,878
$84.8฿2,868
26.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104HNL 2,780
$70.5฿2,383
47.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$425฿14.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$235฿7,947
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$802฿27.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$516฿17.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,926฿65.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿49.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$586฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5
140.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villanueva: July 21, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Villanueva versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Villanueva vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Villanueva 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
Villanueva vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Villanueva or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 47% more than Villanueva, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Villanueva and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $866 per month in Villanueva and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Villanueva and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Villanueva 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 Villanueva or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $800/month in Villanueva or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $577 in Villanueva and $847 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Villanueva or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Villanueva costs $577 versus $847 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Villanueva 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 Villanueva or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Villanueva. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Villanueva vs other spots: cost of living compared