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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $726 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,150 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,573 in Arequipa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Arequipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Arequipa 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.59 PEN 12.04

-42.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$29.83 PEN 100

-34.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.85 PEN 19.63

-3.42%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.61 PEN 8.75

-30.65%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.83 PEN 2.79

-14.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.36 PEN 1.22

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$2.21 PEN 7.40

1.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.34 PEN 14.56

-16.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.37 PEN 4.59

43.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$1.45 PEN 4.85

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.53 PEN 5.13

-12.42%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$2.36 PEN 7.91

-4.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.46 PEN 21.66

151.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.47 PEN 14.98

-34.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.44 PEN 24.95

33.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.83 PEN 6.14

40.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.25 PEN 4.20

-15.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.16 PEN 3.91

38.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$1.02 PEN 3.43

49.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.67 PEN 2.26

89.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.72 PEN 2.42

48.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.56 PEN 1.89

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.77 PEN 2.57

-33.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$5.22 PEN 17.51

-19.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.29 PEN 17.74

237.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.89 PEN 9.69

-41.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.40 PEN 8.04

18.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.29 PEN 0.97

220.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$2.10 PEN 7.05

-41.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$2.05 PEN 6.86

-71.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$12.85 PEN 43.08

-81.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.52 PEN 5.08

-7.24%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$18.6K PEN 62.3K

15.49%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$26.0K PEN 87.3K

4.97%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$24.42 PEN 81.9

160.73%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$10.19 PEN 34.16

26.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$23.41 PEN 78.5

-13.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$25.53 PEN 85.6

51.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$8.36 PEN 28.04

-52.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$7.50 PEN 25.16

-10.13%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$75.6 PEN 253

929.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$6,836 PEN 22.9K

113.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$49.44 PEN 166

9.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$26.25 PEN 88.0

-3.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$69.3 PEN 232

36.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$59.7 PEN 200

22.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$362 PEN 1,214

35.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$240 PEN 804

20.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$731 PEN 2,452

22.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$421 PEN 1,412

22.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,995 PEN 6,688

-1.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$1,016 PEN 3,406

45.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$656 PEN 2,198

-8.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-62.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $362 in Arequipa. 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 9% higher in Arequipa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $179 in Arequipa – so Arequipa 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Arequipa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,089 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $30.00 in Arequipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arequipa, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Arequipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $726 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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