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 $946 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,100 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,455 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,664 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,963 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,227 in Arica, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Arica 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 ฿71.3

$8.28 CLP 7,550

-73.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.96 ฿652

$48.73 CLP 44.4K

-59.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 ฿205

$8.62 CLP 7,862

-27.03%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ฿58.0

$3.15 CLP 2,876

-43.49%

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

$0.73 ฿23.71

$1.65 CLP 1,503

-55.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.84

$1.28 CLP 1,165

-74.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 ฿75.4

$3.94 CLP 3,593

-41.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 ฿125

$3.92 CLP 3,576

-2.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ฿66.6

$1.39 CLP 1,267

46.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 ฿51.7

$1.82 CLP 1,661

-13.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.97

$1.71 CLP 1,558

-28.65%

Eggs

$2.19 ฿71.7

$3.79 CLP 3,457

-42.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.28 ฿532

$11.69 CLP 10.7K

39.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 ฿93.1

$7.38 CLP 6,734

-61.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.72 ฿350

$11.91 CLP 10.9K

-9.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 ฿89.3

$1.98 CLP 1,810

37.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿35.97

$1.60 CLP 1,455

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 ฿51.1

$1.72 CLP 1,567

-8.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.89

$1.70 CLP 1,547

-11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.03

$1.17 CLP 1,068

12.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿34.98

$1.49 CLP 1,361

-28.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.23

$1.28 CLP 1,165

-42.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.66

$1.16 CLP 1,055

-53.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.36 CLP 4,888

-17.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.62 ฿608

$6.04 CLP 5,511

208.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.62 CLP 1,481

1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿93.1

$2.34 CLP 2,130

21.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.31

$0.65 CLP 596

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 ฿1,821

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.28

$0.72 CLP 653

70.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿48.98

$1.53 CLP 1,392

-1.96%

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

$21.8K ฿711.6K

$18.7K CLP 17.1M

16.39%

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

$27.5K ฿897.2K

$21.6K CLP 19.7M

27.15%

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

$64.9 ฿2,119

$118 CLP 107.7K

-45.09%

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

$13.55 ฿443

$13.56 CLP 12.4K

-0.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.56 ฿639

$20.48 CLP 18.7K

-4.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.58 ฿1,293

$34.23 CLP 31.2K

15.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.03 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.53 ฿213

$7.01 CLP 6,394

-6.85%

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

$796 ฿26.0K

$455 CLP 414.5K

75.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K ฿496.8K

$8,374 CLP 7.6M

81.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ฿1,812

$51.2 CLP 46.7K

8.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.22 ฿824

$30.01 CLP 27.4K

-15.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 ฿3,060

$58.4 CLP 53.2K

60.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.5 ฿2,435

$77.3 CLP 70.5K

-3.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿15.7K

$511 CLP 466.3K

-6.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ฿9,253

$390 CLP 355.9K

-27.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 ฿30.0K

$960 CLP 875.1K

-4.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 ฿17.6K

$623 CLP 567.9K

-13.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,970 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,510 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ฿19.8K

$543 CLP 494.8K

11.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.15

8.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 23, 2026

Last update for Arica: August 23, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $511 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Arica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $247 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $946 in Chiang Mai, $1,100 in Arica – roughly 16% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,420 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,649 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $49.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Arica, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $946, than in Arica at $1,100. 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 $946 in Chiang Mai to $1,100 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.