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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $689 in Cusco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,056 in Cusco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,423 in Cusco, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Cusco, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Cusco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Cusco 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.58 PEN 8.65

-19.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$21.08 PEN 70.7

-6.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.46 PEN 21.68

-12.23%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.21 PEN 7.40

-18.10%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.75 PEN 2.51

2.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.33 PEN 1.12

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.13 PEN 7.16

3.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$4.49 PEN 15.05

-15.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.33 PEN 4.47

54.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.36 PEN 7.91

-36.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.32 PEN 4.42

6.06%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.63 PEN 12.18

-37.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.85 PEN 16.28

233.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.57 PEN 15.35

-36.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$7.37 PEN 24.73

27.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.67 PEN 8.95

0.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.85 PEN 2.84

28.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.53 PEN 5.12

5.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.88 PEN 2.94

65.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.07 PEN 3.59

19.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.15 PEN 3.87

-7.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.54 PEN 1.81

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.78 PEN 2.61

-32.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$5.90 PEN 19.81

210.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.96 PEN 6.58

-16.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$4.35 PEN 14.61

-33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.31 PEN 1.05

183.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.81 PEN 6.06

-35.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.89 PEN 6.33

-69.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.93 PEN 9.83

-18.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.54 PEN 5.18

-5.84%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$30.32 PEN 102

109.93%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$14.64 PEN 49.14

-11.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$43.76 PEN 147

-53.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$35.37 PEN 119

10.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.35 PEN 14.60

51.26%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$38.77 PEN 130

42.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$33.83 PEN 114

-26.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$55.7 PEN 187

69.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$73.7 PEN 247

0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$146 PEN 490

235.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$176 PEN 589

64.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$361 PEN 1,211

146.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$267 PEN 895

95.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$3,914 PEN 13.1K

-49.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,841 PEN 6,178

-21.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$442 PEN 1,482

36.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cusco: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $146 in Cusco. 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 36% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Cusco. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Cusco – so Cusco 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 Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Cusco, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,034 in Cusco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cusco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $689 in Cusco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cusco, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Cusco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cusco costs $689 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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