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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $110 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $191 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $272 in Ayacucho.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 691% more expensive than Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ayacucho 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.64 PEN 5.57

18.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$13.75 PEN 46.77

35.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.07 PEN 13.84

92.14%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.25 PEN 7.66

-13.33%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.80 PEN 2.71

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.29 PEN 1.00

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.89 PEN 6.42

12.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.25 PEN 7.66

65.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.80 PEN 19.73

221.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$24.55 PEN 83.5

67.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,944 PEN 6,615

1.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,747 PEN 5,942

-15.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$492 PEN 1,675

25.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $14.00 in Ayacucho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $12.00 per month, with Ayacucho cheaper across the board.

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 Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 691% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chiang Mai pays 25% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $110 in Ayacucho – a 691% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2024% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ayacucho gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $110 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Ayacucho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 691% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.