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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 19.2% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 21.7% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 19.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.4

$4.26 PEN 14.63

-52.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿583

$28.24 PEN 96.9

-35.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿245

$5.70 PEN 19.56

34.21%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.4

$2.49 PEN 8.55

-22.89%

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

$0.84 ฿26.91

$0.81 PEN 2.78

3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.39

$0.37 PEN 1.26

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.0

$2.21 PEN 7.57

-0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$5.94 PEN 20.37

-36.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.4

$1.53 PEN 5.26

7.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.8

$1.22 PEN 4.19

32.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.89

$1.26 PEN 4.33

-8.73%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.0

$2.16 PEN 7.42

-10.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿510

$5.58 PEN 19.14

185.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.2

$5.29 PEN 18.13

-41.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿354

$7.57 PEN 25.96

46.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.6

$1.45 PEN 4.98

86.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.70

$1.17 PEN 4.01

0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.5

$1.18 PEN 4.04

44.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.3

$0.75 PEN 2.59

114.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.54

$0.59 PEN 2.01

135.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.72

$0.54 PEN 1.85

112.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.77

$0.44 PEN 1.50

61.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.60

$0.73 PEN 2.50

-24.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$4.94 PEN 16.95

-7.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿604

$5.06 PEN 17.35

272.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.2

$2.42 PEN 8.29

-24.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$2.31 PEN 7.94

38.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.17

$0.27 PEN 0.91

225.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.18

$2.12 PEN 7.28

-33.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.60

$2.12 PEN 7.28

-38.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿262

$12.88 PEN 44.18

-36.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.19

$1.55 PEN 5.31

-20.65%

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

$21.2K ฿677.2K

$18.9K PEN 64.9K

11.88%

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

$22.3K ฿713.5K

$25.1K PEN 86.1K

-11.08%

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

$69.9 ฿2,234

$40.21 PEN 138

73.76%

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

$14.07 ฿450

$10.71 PEN 36.75

31.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿566

$30.34 PEN 104

-41.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,324

$21.65 PEN 74.3

91.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿214

$8.56 PEN 29.37

-21.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$4.52 PEN 15.52

26.99%

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

$299 ฿9,569

$60.6 PEN 208

393.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿480.0K

$6,415 PEN 22.0K

133.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,753

$36.93 PEN 127

48.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿843

$22.20 PEN 76.1

18.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,707

$63.7 PEN 219

32.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,230

$54.7 PEN 188

27.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$237 PEN 812

80.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,699

$156 PEN 536

54.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.9K

$542 PEN 1,859

49.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿15.9K

$391 PEN 1,342

27.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.7K

$2,004 PEN 6,874

0.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.7K

$997 PEN 3,420

52.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.4K

$649 PEN 2,226

-1.50%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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