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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,082 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,621 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,160 in Arica, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Arica 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.1

$8.77 CLP 7,890

-77.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$44.07 CLP 39.6K

-58.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$7.76 CLP 6,976

1.42%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.85 CLP 2,567

-31.58%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.34 CLP 1,209

-36.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$1.03 CLP 925

-68.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$3.32 CLP 2,983

-35.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$4.13 CLP 3,712

-10.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.24 CLP 1,120

33.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$1.50 CLP 1,352

4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$1.85 CLP 1,662

-35.68%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$3.57 CLP 3,215

-44.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$10.48 CLP 9,427

54.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$6.65 CLP 5,977

-52.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$10.98 CLP 9,879

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$1.87 CLP 1,679

41.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$1.57 CLP 1,411

-22.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$1.53 CLP 1,375

7.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$1.52 CLP 1,369

1.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$1.27 CLP 1,144

4.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$1.42 CLP 1,278

-14.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$1.21 CLP 1,086

-43.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$1.23 CLP 1,104

-53.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$5.54 CLP 4,983

-15.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$6.54 CLP 5,880

159.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.55 CLP 1,395

17.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$2.28 CLP 2,053

39.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.62 CLP 554

46.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$0.47 CLP 425

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$1.36 CLP 1,224

-5.88%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$19.3K CLP 17.3M

13.37%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$21.6K CLP 19.4M

3.67%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$134 CLP 120.7K

-47.48%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$13.38 CLP 12.0K

5.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$21.82 CLP 19.6K

-19.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

8.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$21.40 CLP 19.2K

-68.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$5.83 CLP 5,240

2.23%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$428 CLP 385.2K

-29.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$51.7 CLP 46.5K

5.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$29.78 CLP 26.8K

-11.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$57.5 CLP 51.7K

49.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$82.5 CLP 74.2K

-15.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$483 CLP 434.7K

-11.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$368 CLP 331.4K

-35.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$881 CLP 792.3K

-7.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$585 CLP 525.9K

-12.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$555 CLP 499.1K

12.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

-3.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Arica: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $483 in Arica. 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 12% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Arica. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $231 in Arica – so Arica 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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $848 in Chiang Mai, $1,082 in Arica – roughly 28% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,623 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $44.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Arica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Arica at $1,082. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $848 in Chiang Mai to $1,082 in Arica. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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