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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 26.8% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 37.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 13.9% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 24% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$4.28 PEN 14.38

-53.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$28.28 PEN 95.0

-33.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$5.47 PEN 18.40

44.79%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.6

$2.60 PEN 8.74

-22.31%

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

$0.84 ฿26.44

$0.76 PEN 2.56

10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.06

$0.36 PEN 1.22

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$2.27 PEN 7.63

-2.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$5.83 PEN 19.60

-38.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.3

$1.60 PEN 5.38

4.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$1.22 PEN 4.10

32.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.82

$1.21 PEN 4.08

-0.83%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$2.08 PEN 7.01

-7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$5.53 PEN 18.59

189.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$5.26 PEN 17.69

-39.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿343

$7.77 PEN 26.10

40.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$1.52 PEN 5.09

75.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.98

$1.23 PEN 4.14

-4.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$1.24 PEN 4.15

32.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.82

$0.81 PEN 2.71

96.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.63

$0.56 PEN 1.88

135.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.48

$0.54 PEN 1.83

120.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.19

$0.47 PEN 1.59

51.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.74

$0.77 PEN 2.59

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$5.02 PEN 16.87

-7.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$5.18 PEN 17.39

266.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.6

$2.47 PEN 8.29

-28.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$2.21 PEN 7.43

44.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.31

$0.29 PEN 0.98

210.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.77

$2.05 PEN 6.90

-33.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.35

$2.05 PEN 6.87

-34.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$12.76 PEN 42.88

-36.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.42

$1.61 PEN 5.41

-24.22%

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

$21.4K ฿671.6K

$18.9K PEN 63.4K

13.31%

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

$21.7K ฿683.6K

$25.1K PEN 84.2K

-13.22%

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$40.03 PEN 134

75.62%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$10.58 PEN 35.54

31.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$30.36 PEN 102

-40.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,313

$21.65 PEN 72.7

92.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

$8.27 PEN 27.80

-17.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$4.31 PEN 14.49

32.71%

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

$308 ฿9,690

$60.1 PEN 202

412.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.6K

$6,315 PEN 21.2K

134.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,755

$37.49 PEN 126

48.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿839

$22.19 PEN 74.6

20.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,657

$63.2 PEN 212

33.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,226

$54.9 PEN 185

28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

$237 PEN 795

82.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,437

$157 PEN 526

51.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

$530 PEN 1,780

53.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

$392 PEN 1,316

27.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

$2,054 PEN 6,902

7.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

$1,008 PEN 3,386

58.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

$670 PEN 2,250

2.21%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: January 11, 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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