😐A single person spends $1,030 per month in Asuncion vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,603 per month in Asuncion vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,176 per month in Asuncion vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Asuncion costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Asuncion and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Asuncion25% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31₲43.0K
$2.08฿69.2
251.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.46₲249.9K
$19.64฿651
116.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.72₲39.6K
$5.65฿188
18.94%
Cappuccino
$3.28₲19.3K
$1.81฿59.9
81.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05₲6,181
$0.71฿23.66
47.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63₲3,704
$0.32฿10.48
96.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04₲12.0K
$2.24฿74.2
-8.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84₲10.8K
$3.63฿121
-49.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25₲7,351
$1.96฿65.0
-36.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48₲8,694
$1.50฿49.83
-1.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30₲7,639
$1.34฿44.32
-2.99%
Eggs
$2.42₲14.2K
$2.26฿75.1
7.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.59₲56.4K
$16.26฿539
-41.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.28₲31.1K
$2.95฿98.0
78.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.66₲56.9K
$9.94฿330
-2.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86₲16.9K
$2.57฿85.3
11.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25₲7,380
$1.06฿35.04
17.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.17₲6,887
$1.61฿53.5
-27.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40₲14.1K
$1.52฿50.4
57.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36₲7,994
$1.27฿42.14
7.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31₲7,739
$1.07฿35.37
22.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89₲5,250
$0.72฿23.89
23.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69₲4,067
$0.51฿16.87
35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34₲13.8K
$4.19฿139
-44.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.16₲53.9K
$17.87฿593
-48.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35₲7,970
$1.69฿56.2
-20.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₲10.2K
$2.84฿94.1
-39.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59₲3,470
$0.93฿30.70
-36.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.85₲216.9K
$53.9฿1,787
-31.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₲8,730
$1.23฿40.95
20.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56₲9,167
$0.58฿19.13
168.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.33₲60.8K
$2.42฿80.4
326.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₲6,818
$1.41฿46.84
-17.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0K₲100.3M
$21.4K฿711.3K
-20.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K₲205.3M
$27.3K฿906.7K
27.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.80₲287.2K
$63.7฿2,112
-23.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86₲99.2K
$12.85฿426
31.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.77₲128.1K
$20.22฿671
7.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.22₲213.2K
$38.74฿1,285
-6.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.80₲87.1K
$3.97฿132
272.80%
Cinema Ticket
$8.24₲48.5K
$6.74฿223
22.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178₲1.0M
$778฿25.8K
-77.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,730₲33.7M
$14.6K฿484.6K
-60.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4₲361.2K
$54.3฿1,801
13.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.4₲332.1K
$25.45฿844
121.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104₲613.5K
$94.3฿3,129
10.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9₲405.2K
$73.4฿2,436
-6.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$608₲3.6M
$490฿16.2K
24.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$377₲2.2M
$289฿9,596
30.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022₲6.0M
$894฿29.6K
14.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$635₲3.7M
$517฿17.1K
22.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,766₲10.4M
$1,955฿64.9K
-9.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,220₲7.2M
$1,477฿49.0K
-17.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asuncion
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$711₲4.2M
$602฿20.0K
18.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.15
5.57
82.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Asuncion: August 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Asuncion versus $490 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 18% higher in Asuncion, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Asuncion versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Asuncion vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Asuncion 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
Asuncion vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Asuncion?
Yes – Asuncion is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,545 per month in Asuncion and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 46% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Asuncion and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Asuncion or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Asuncion at $1,030. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Asuncion it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Asuncion or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Asuncion or Chiang Mai?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Asuncion makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.