Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Arica and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

For one person, living is cheaper in Arica: $109 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Arica

🇨🇱 Chile

$109

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Arica and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Arica and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $109 per month in Arica vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Arica $109
Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $176 per month in Arica vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Arica $176
Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $243 per month in Arica vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Arica $243
Chiang Mai $1,979

Arica is about 88% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Arica and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Arica 92% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,184

$0.31 ฿10.31

283.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 CLP 1,014

$1.95 ฿65.7

-47.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.46

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.03

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.11

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.18

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 CLP 723

$0.87 ฿29.30

-16.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.88

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

$21.1K ฿710.5K

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

$26.9K ฿909.0K

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.51 CLP 40.2K

$53.4 ฿1,801

-24.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.92 CLP 19.8K

$24.64 ฿831

-19.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 CLP 53.0K

$91.5 ฿3,087

-41.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 CLP 88.6K

$71.9 ฿2,427

24.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 CLP 499.8K

$590 ฿19.9K

-14.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-10.23%

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

Last update for Arica: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Arica

–

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Groceries & Markets

Arica

–

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Clothing & Footwear

Arica

–

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Arica

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Arica

–

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Getting Around

Arica

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Arica

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 17% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇨🇱 Arica

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

11:24 11:24 AM

21:24 9:24 PM

10 h ahead of Arica

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

202,131

127,240

💱 Currency

Chilean Peso CLP $

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 CLP = 10.07 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇱 Chilean Peso ($)

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 993 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.01 USD). 1 EUR = 1,109 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

USD to CLP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Arica Chiang Mai 18,890 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight

From you

Arica
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $109 in Arica, $936 in Chiang Mai – Arica comes out roughly 88% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $164 per month in Arica and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $109 in Arica and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Arica about 88% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 2195% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $109 in Arica and $936 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $109 in Arica to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Arica. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.