Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Asuncion

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,062 in Asuncion, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
51

Cost of Living Index in Asuncion
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Asuncion Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Asuncion

🇵🇾 Paraguay

$1,062

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Asuncion

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Asuncion actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,062 in Asuncion, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Asuncion $1,062

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,655 in Asuncion, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Asuncion $1,655

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,249 in Asuncion, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Asuncion $2,249

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Asuncion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Asuncion are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Asuncion 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$6.76 ₲39.2K

-66.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$43.17 ₲250.5K

-55.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$7.01 ₲40.7K

-20.83%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$3.47 ₲20.1K

-51.87%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$1.09 ₲6,309

-41.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.55 ₲3,202

-43.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$2.02 ₲11.7K

16.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$1.73 ₲10.0K

111.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.27 ₲7,351

53.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$1.46 ₲8,483

-1.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$1.39 ₲8,042

-4.32%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.36 ₲13.7K

-3.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$9.88 ₲57.3K

66.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$5.23 ₲30.3K

-46.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$10.02 ₲58.1K

-7.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$3.01 ₲17.5K

-21.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$1.25 ₲7,279

-22.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.22 ₲7,105

31.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$2.49 ₲14.4K

-39.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$1.40 ₲8,097

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$1.35 ₲7,859

-18.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$0.91 ₲5,292

-21.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.71 ₲4,103

-30.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.37 ₲13.8K

74.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$9.08 ₲52.7K

92.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.33 ₲7,697

21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.73 ₲10.0K

60.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.61 ₲3,511

42.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$36.24 ₲210.3K

49.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$1.51 ₲8,790

-23.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$1.52 ₲8,817

-65.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$10.37 ₲60.2K

-76.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.22 ₲7,103

18.85%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$17.0K ₲98.9M

23.57%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$29.5K ₲171.4M

-8.79%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$51.4 ₲298.4K

20.88%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$17.47 ₲101.4K

-30.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$22.66 ₲131.5K

-11.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$36.59 ₲212.3K

1.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$15.07 ₲87.5K

-74.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$8.42 ₲48.9K

-22.92%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$183 ₲1.1M

301.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$5,692 ₲33.0M

159.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$63.8 ₲370.1K

-16.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$56.7 ₲328.8K

-56.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$108 ₲628.5K

-15.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$70.0 ₲406.4K

2.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$639 ₲3.7M

-24.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$382 ₲2.2M

-19.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$1,066 ₲6.2M

-5.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$635 ₲3.7M

-0.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,750 ₲10.2M

35.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,233 ₲7.2M

28.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$726 ₲4.2M

-18.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.5

-46.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Asuncion: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Asuncion

$382 36% 23.8% $73

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Asuncion

$215 20.3% 8.1% $19

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Asuncion

$134 12.7% 23.7% $26

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Asuncion

$92 8.6% 3.1% $2.9

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Asuncion

$137 12.9% 76.4% $59

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Asuncion

$48 4.5% 22.1% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Asuncion

$53 5% 6.3% $3.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $639 in Asuncion. 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 23% higher in Asuncion. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $43 in Asuncion. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $215 in Asuncion – so Asuncion wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇾 Asuncion

🕒 Local time

03:49 3:49 AM

17:49 5:49 PM

10 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

742,023 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Paraguayan Guarani PYG ₲

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 PYG = 1.72 USD

10,000 PYG = 1.55 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5,803 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.72 USD). 1 EUR = 6,460 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.55 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Asuncion 17,500 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Asuncion

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Asuncion is pricier by about 13%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,592 in Asuncion. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $639 in Asuncion.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $183 in Asuncion. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,062 in Asuncion. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,062 in Asuncion. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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