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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,070 per month in Arica vs $905 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,663 per month in Arica vs $1,374 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,256 per month in Arica vs $1,843 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Arica costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arica and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Arica 21% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.98 CLP 7,303

$2.08 ฿68.9

283.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 CLP 49.4K

$19.52 ฿646

176.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.44 CLP 8,639

$5.94 ฿197

58.92%

Cappuccino

$3.24 CLP 2,964

$1.70 ฿56.4

90.59%

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

$1.59 CLP 1,454

$0.72 ฿23.81

120.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,137

$0.32 ฿10.74

287.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 CLP 4,010

$2.44 ฿80.9

79.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 CLP 3,692

$3.66 ฿121

10.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 CLP 1,197

$1.86 ฿61.5

-29.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,393

$1.56 ฿51.6

-2.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 CLP 1,659

$1.33 ฿44.00

36.09%

Eggs

$4.16 CLP 3,812

$2.16 ฿71.5

92.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 CLP 10.2K

$15.58 ฿516

-28.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 CLP 6,040

$2.85 ฿94.2

131.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.60 CLP 9,706

$10.39 ฿344

2.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 CLP 1,565

$2.44 ฿80.6

-29.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,358

$1.09 ฿36.04

35.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,549

$1.47 ฿48.65

14.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,361

$1.49 ฿49.34

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 CLP 1,066

$1.20 ฿39.67

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,478

$1.09 ฿35.92

48.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 CLP 1,098

$0.69 ฿22.76

73.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CLP 1,014

$0.51 ฿17.00

117.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 CLP 5,519

$4.37 ฿145

37.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.14 CLP 5,620

$16.63 ฿551

-63.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,420

$1.65 ฿54.5

-6.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CLP 1,962

$2.74 ฿90.8

-21.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 CLP 614

$0.94 ฿31.21

-28.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 ฿1,812

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 CLP 738

$1.23 ฿40.60

-34.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ฿78.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 CLP 1,386

$1.45 ฿47.96

4.14%

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

$20.9K CLP 19.1M

$20.8K ฿689.9K

0.34%

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

$23.5K CLP 21.5M

$26.3K ฿869.5K

-10.42%

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

$126 CLP 114.9K

$62.3 ฿2,063

101.49%

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

$14.53 CLP 13.3K

$13.01 ฿431

11.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.65 CLP 18.9K

$19.45 ฿644

6.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.65 CLP 33.5K

$38.68 ฿1,280

-5.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.86 ฿128

Cinema Ticket

$7.97 CLP 7,292

$6.62 ฿219

20.39%

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

$384 CLP 351.4K

$782 ฿25.9K

-50.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,792 CLP 7.1M

$14.8K ฿490.0K

-47.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 CLP 46.2K

$54.1 ฿1,789

-6.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.23 CLP 27.7K

$25.39 ฿840

19.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.0 CLP 52.2K

$90.9 ฿3,010

-37.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.0 CLP 69.5K

$74.0 ฿2,448

2.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 CLP 418.5K

$476 ฿15.7K

-3.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 CLP 322.7K

$275 ฿9,095

28.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 CLP 792.7K

$881 ฿29.2K

-1.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 CLP 594.5K

$528 ฿17.5K

22.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,476 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 CLP 486.3K

$598 ฿19.8K

-11.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.13

5.57

-7.90%

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

Last update for Arica: August 4, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Arica versus $476 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 13% 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 $54.0 in Arica versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Arica vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Arica 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,070 in Arica, $905 in Chiang Mai – roughly 18% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,604 per month in Arica and $1,358 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 $54.0 in Arica and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Arica – 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 $905, than in Arica at $1,070. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $905 in Chiang Mai to $1,070 in Arica. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.