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

🙂 Solo nomad: Arequipa is 16.1% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 26.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Arequipa is 17.8% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 16.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.26 PEN 14.63
$2.01 ฿64.4
111.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.24 PEN 96.9
$18.23 ฿583
54.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 PEN 19.56
$7.65 ฿245
-25.49%
Cappuccino
$2.49 PEN 8.55
$1.92 ฿61.4
29.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 PEN 2.78
$0.84 ฿26.91
-3.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 PEN 1.26
$0.36 ฿11.39
2.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 PEN 7.57
$2.19 ฿70.0
0.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 PEN 20.37
$3.79 ฿121
56.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 PEN 5.26
$1.64 ฿52.4
-6.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 PEN 4.19
$1.62 ฿51.8
-24.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PEN 4.33
$1.15 ฿36.89
9.57%
Eggs
$2.16 PEN 7.42
$1.94 ฿62.0
11.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.58 PEN 19.14
$15.94 ฿510
-64.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.29 PEN 18.13
$3.10 ฿99.2
70.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.57 PEN 25.96
$11.07 ฿354
-31.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.45 PEN 4.98
$2.71 ฿86.6
-46.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 PEN 4.01
$1.18 ฿37.70
-0.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 PEN 4.04
$1.71 ฿54.5
-30.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 PEN 2.59
$1.61 ฿51.3
-53.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 PEN 2.01
$1.39 ฿44.54
-57.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 PEN 1.85
$1.15 ฿36.72
-53.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 PEN 1.50
$0.71 ฿22.77
-38.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 PEN 2.50
$0.55 ฿17.60
32.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94 PEN 16.95
$4.57 ฿146
8.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.06 PEN 17.35
$18.87 ฿604
-73.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 PEN 8.29
$1.82 ฿58.2
32.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 PEN 7.94
$3.21 ฿103
-28.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 PEN 0.91
$0.88 ฿28.17
-69.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.89 ฿604
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.12 PEN 7.28
$1.41 ฿45.18
50.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 PEN 7.28
$1.30 ฿41.60
63.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.88 PEN 44.18
$8.20 ฿262
57.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 PEN 5.31
$1.23 ฿39.19
26.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K PEN 64.9K
$21.2K ฿677.2K
-10.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K PEN 86.1K
$22.3K ฿713.5K
12.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.21 PEN 138
$69.9 ฿2,234
-42.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.71 PEN 36.75
$14.07 ฿450
-23.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.34 PEN 104
$17.70 ฿566
71.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.65 PEN 74.3
$41.41 ฿1,324
-47.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.56 PEN 29.37
$6.69 ฿214
27.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.52 PEN 15.52
$5.74 ฿184
-21.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PEN 208
$299 ฿9,569
-79.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,415 PEN 22.0K
$15.0K ฿480.0K
-57.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.93 PEN 127
$54.8 ฿1,753
-32.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.20 PEN 76.1
$26.35 ฿843
-15.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.7 PEN 219
$84.7 ฿2,707
-24.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.7 PEN 188
$69.7 ฿2,230
-21.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 PEN 812
$427 ฿13.7K
-44.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 PEN 536
$241 ฿7,699
-35.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 PEN 1,859
$811 ฿25.9K
-33.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 PEN 1,342
$498 ฿15.9K
-21.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,004 PEN 6,874
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-0.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$997 PEN 3,420
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-34.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$649 PEN 2,226
$639 ฿20.4K
1.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
5
200.00%

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

Last update for Arequipa: April 12, 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

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