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

😐 Solo nomad: Arenal is 87.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 79.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Arenal is 59% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 79.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.81 ₡4,938

$2.01 ฿64.5

437.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 ₡26.8K

$18.23 ฿584

222.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 ₡4,516

$7.65 ฿245

29.28%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,801

$1.92 ฿61.5

105.21%

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

$1.96 ₡896

$0.84 ฿26.97

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡727

$0.36 ฿11.42

341.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 ₡1,375

$2.19 ฿70.2

37.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₡2,174

$3.79 ฿121

25.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ₡908

$1.64 ฿52.5

21.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 ₡1,276

$1.62 ฿52.0

72.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₡1,030

$1.15 ฿36.98

95.65%

Eggs

$2.89 ₡1,320

$1.94 ฿62.2

48.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 ₡4,638

$15.94 ฿511

-36.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.09 ₡4,153

$3.10 ฿99.5

193.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 ₡6,187

$11.07 ฿355

22.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 ₡2,018

$2.71 ฿86.8

63.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡681

$1.18 ฿37.80

26.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡1,957

$1.71 ฿54.7

150.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,590

$1.61 ฿51.5

116.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,621

$1.39 ฿44.66

155.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,475

$1.15 ฿36.81

180.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡470

$0.71 ฿22.83

45.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,335

$0.55 ฿17.65

430.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₡2,352

$4.57 ฿146

12.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.75 ₡9,937

$18.87 ฿605

15.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,160

$1.82 ฿58.4

39.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,334

$3.21 ฿103

-9.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₡457

$0.88 ฿28.24

13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿606

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 ₡841

$1.41 ฿45.30

30.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡812

$1.30 ฿41.71

36.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.99 ₡3,650

$8.20 ฿263

-2.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡673

$1.23 ฿39.29

19.51%

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

$38.0K ₡17.4M

$21.2K ฿678.9K

79.65%

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

$32.9K ₡15.0M

$22.3K ฿715.3K

47.44%

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

$92.0 ₡42.0K

$69.9 ฿2,240

31.64%

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

$26.41 ₡12.1K

$14.07 ฿451

87.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 ₡27.1K

$17.70 ฿567

235.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 ₡26.1K

$41.41 ฿1,328

37.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ₡11.0K

$6.69 ฿215

258.74%

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 ₡4,612

$5.74 ฿184

75.96%

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

$572 ₡261.1K

$299 ฿9,593

91.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡5.7M

$15.0K ฿481.2K

-17.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 ₡28.5K

$54.8 ฿1,758

13.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡23.9K

$26.35 ฿845

98.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.5K

$84.7 ฿2,714

48.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡49.6K

$69.7 ฿2,236

55.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₡351.6K

$427 ฿13.7K

80.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₡276.4K

$241 ฿7,718

151.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,510 ₡689.7K

$811 ฿26.0K

86.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₡437.2K

$498 ฿16.0K

92.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

103.40%

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

Last update for Arenal: April 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

Arenal vs other spots: cost of living compared

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