🙂A single person spends $586 per month in Villanueva vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $958 per month in Villanueva vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,330 per month in Villanueva vs $1,855 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 – Villanueva56% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91HNL 158
$1.98฿64.9
198.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.96HNL 985
$18.80฿618
96.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.45HNL 199
$7.75฿255
-3.87%
Cappuccino
$2.33HNL 62.1
$1.92฿63.1
21.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03HNL 27.42
$0.79฿26.03
30.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12HNL 29.87
$0.36฿11.72
211.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17HNL 31.16
$2.21฿72.8
-47.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63HNL 70.1
$3.66฿120
-28.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38HNL 36.81
$1.65฿54.3
-16.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.06HNL 55.0
$1.63฿53.6
26.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21HNL 32.38
$1.19฿39.22
1.68%
Eggs
$2.12HNL 56.6
$2.00฿65.7
6.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.19HNL 165
$15.98฿525
-61.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.68HNL 98.2
$3.03฿99.4
21.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.05HNL 214
$10.86฿357
-25.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99HNL 79.7
$2.76฿90.8
8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52HNL 40.42
$1.18฿38.77
28.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49HNL 39.76
$1.64฿54.0
-9.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58HNL 42.18
$1.52฿49.97
3.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61HNL 42.80
$1.38฿45.52
16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34HNL 35.72
$1.19฿39.19
12.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90HNL 23.93
$0.70฿23.08
28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72HNL 45.75
$0.56฿18.30
207.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45HNL 65.3
$4.58฿150
-46.51%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.56฿544
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28HNL 34.25
$1.83฿60.1
-30.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86HNL 49.47
$3.20฿105
-41.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿28.83
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿615
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.32HNL 115
$1.36฿44.57
217.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.34฿44.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿258
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07HNL 28.42
$1.23฿40.29
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KHNL 516.3K
$21.6K฿710.8K
-10.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0KHNL 507.5K
$22.5K฿741.1K
-15.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.9HNL 2,157
$70.5฿2,319
14.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.82HNL 235
$13.68฿450
-35.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.50HNL 1,080
$17.45฿574
132.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,359
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿229
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.60HNL 149
$5.77฿190
-2.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$253HNL 6,757
$307฿10.1K
-17.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.6K฿480.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.33HNL 1,208
$55.8฿1,834
-18.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.17HNL 937
$26.21฿861
34.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110HNL 2,935
$85.8฿2,819
28.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103HNL 2,744
$72.2฿2,375
42.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,845
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿65.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villanueva
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.3K
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 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 – $189 in Villanueva vs $241 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 48% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $880 per month in Villanueva and $1,303 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 vs 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 28% 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 Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $586 in Villanueva and $869 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 $586 versus $869 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 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