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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $109 in Ayacucho versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $191 in Ayacucho versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $273 in Ayacucho versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Ayacucho costs roughly 87% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ayacucho 92% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.70 PEN 5.77

$1.96 ฿65.7

-13.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.69 PEN 46.40

$18.35 ฿616

-25.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 PEN 13.99

$7.48 ฿251

-44.79%

Cappuccino

$2.17 PEN 7.37

$2.02 ฿67.7

7.43%

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

$0.84 PEN 2.86

$0.85 ฿28.45

-1.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.36 ฿11.94

-19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 PEN 6.41

$2.14 ฿71.7

-11.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.62

$3.59 ฿121

-37.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 PEN 20.15

$17.62 ฿591

-66.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

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

$14.04 ฿471

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.40 PEN 86.1

$42.15 ฿1,415

-39.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,890 PEN 6,408

$1,915 ฿64.3K

-1.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,764 PEN 5,979

$1,467 ฿49.3K

20.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 PEN 1,630

$579 ฿19.4K

-17.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ayacucho: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Ayacucho vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $12.00 vs $243 per month, with Ayacucho cheaper across the board.

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

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

Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 691% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $109 per month in Ayacucho versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 691% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1947% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ayacucho gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $109 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ayacucho and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 691% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.