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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,100 per month in Villarrica vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,675 per month in Villarrica vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,250 per month in Villarrica vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Villarrica costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Villarrica and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Villarrica 18% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.51 CLP 7,553

$1.94 ฿63.5

338.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.16 CLP 40.1K

$18.64 ฿609

142.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 CLP 7,284

$7.82 ฿255

4.99%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,416

$1.95 ฿63.8

39.49%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,159

$0.85 ฿27.77

54.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 939

$0.35 ฿11.58

202.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 CLP 2,796

$2.13 ฿69.6

47.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 CLP 3,644

$3.73 ฿122

10.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,092

$1.71 ฿56.0

-28.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,385

$1.63 ฿53.2

-4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,671

$1.14 ฿37.15

64.91%

Eggs

$3.55 CLP 3,150

$1.93 ฿63.1

83.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 CLP 9,231

$16.21 ฿530

-35.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 CLP 5,758

$3.12 ฿102

108.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 CLP 9,707

$10.90 ฿356

0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 CLP 1,604

$2.75 ฿90.0

-34.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,396

$1.21 ฿39.52

29.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,418

$1.62 ฿53.0

-1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,336

$1.59 ฿51.8

-5.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 CLP 1,150

$1.40 ฿45.70

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 CLP 1,254

$1.17 ฿38.17

20.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 CLP 1,115

$0.66 ฿21.60

90.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,096

$0.53 ฿17.22

133.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 CLP 4,831

$4.69 ฿153

15.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.29 CLP 5,580

$18.66 ฿609

-66.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,376

$1.80 ฿58.8

-13.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 1,981

$3.23 ฿106

-30.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 CLP 556

$0.90 ฿29.26

-30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 450

$1.41 ฿45.91

-63.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 1,839

$1.29 ฿42.12

60.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,221

$1.27 ฿41.58

8.66%

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

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-7.39%

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

$21.7K CLP 19.2M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-2.37%

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

$131 CLP 116.2K

$69.1 ฿2,256

89.62%

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

$13.53 CLP 12.0K

$14.08 ฿460

-3.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.17 CLP 19.7K

$18.00 ฿588

23.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.83 CLP 33.6K

$41.06 ฿1,341

-7.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.49 CLP 19.1K

$6.96 ฿227

208.76%

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 CLP 4,893

$5.92 ฿193

-6.93%

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

$438 CLP 388.8K

$299 ฿9,766

46.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 CLP 45.6K

$54.7 ฿1,787

-6.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.16 CLP 26.8K

$26.77 ฿874

12.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.7 CLP 55.6K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-26.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 74.0K

$70.6 ฿2,306

18.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 CLP 419.4K

$428 ฿14.0K

10.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 CLP 326.3K

$237 ฿7,752

54.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 CLP 786.2K

$801 ฿26.2K

10.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 CLP 534.1K

$515 ฿16.8K

16.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$558 CLP 495.6K

$617 ฿20.2K

-9.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

3.60%

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

Last update for Villarrica: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Villarrica 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.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Villarrica versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Villarrica vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Villarrica 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

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

Villarrica costs about 27% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,650 per month in Villarrica and $1,300 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 $45.00 in Villarrica and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Villarrica – 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 $866, than in Villarrica at $1,100. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villarrica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,100 in Villarrica. 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, Villarrica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.