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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 39.4% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 35% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 34.2% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.0

$4.15 PEN 14.14

-51.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿586

$28.05 PEN 95.7

-33.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿236

$5.45 PEN 18.58

37.25%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.0

$2.52 PEN 8.60

-20.63%

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

$0.85 ฿26.72

$0.76 PEN 2.60

11.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.09

$0.40 PEN 1.35

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿69.8

$2.25 PEN 7.68

-1.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿118

$6.04 PEN 20.59

-37.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.2

$1.52 PEN 5.20

13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿51.5

$1.28 PEN 4.37

27.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿36.54

$1.27 PEN 4.32

-8.66%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿62.4

$2.08 PEN 7.11

-4.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿502

$5.44 PEN 18.55

192.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿99.9

$5.24 PEN 17.88

-39.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿344

$7.50 PEN 25.57

45.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿83.4

$1.49 PEN 5.09

77.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿38.57

$1.18 PEN 4.03

3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿53.5

$1.22 PEN 4.14

39.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.2

$0.82 PEN 2.80

93.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.76

$0.58 PEN 1.98

127.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿36.86

$0.55 PEN 1.86

112.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.38

$0.44 PEN 1.51

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.58

$0.73 PEN 2.47

-23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿142

$4.87 PEN 16.59

-7.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿602

$5.18 PEN 17.66

268.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.8

$2.48 PEN 8.47

-28.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿100

$2.22 PEN 7.58

43.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.37

$0.27 PEN 0.91

255.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿596

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.83

$2.05 PEN 7.01

-33.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.65

$2.06 PEN 7.01

-34.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿253

$12.90 PEN 43.99

-37.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.20

$1.54 PEN 5.27

-19.48%

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

$21.2K ฿667.5K

$18.9K PEN 64.4K

12.08%

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

$21.8K ฿686.1K

$25.2K PEN 86.0K

-13.70%

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

$71.2 ฿2,247

$39.50 PEN 135

80.35%

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

$14.09 ฿444

$10.48 PEN 35.75

34.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿551

$30.17 PEN 103

-42.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,327

$21.27 PEN 72.5

97.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿217

$8.50 PEN 28.98

-19.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿187

$4.52 PEN 15.43

31.42%

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

$307 ฿9,694

$59.6 PEN 203

415.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿466.6K

$6,330 PEN 21.6K

133.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,756

$38.11 PEN 130

46.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿845

$22.08 PEN 75.3

21.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,625

$63.4 PEN 216

31.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,211

$55.1 PEN 188

27.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.5K

$244 PEN 831

75.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,478

$160 PEN 547

47.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.3K

$539 PEN 1,838

48.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿15.9K

$390 PEN 1,329

29.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.0K

$2,038 PEN 6,949

1.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿48.3K

$990 PEN 3,376

54.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.6K

$658 PEN 2,243

-0.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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