Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Huánuco

For one person, living is cheaper in Huánuco: $26.98 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Huánuco, Peru
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Huánuco
🇵🇪 Peru
$26.98
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Huánuco actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $27 in Huánuco, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Huánuco $27

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $78 in Huánuco, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Huánuco $78

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $130 in Huánuco, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Huánuco $130

Chiang Mai costs about 3367% more than Huánuco, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Huánuco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Huánuco 98% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.8
$2.94 PEN 10.13
-27.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿626
$14.38 PEN 49.62
29.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿188
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.9
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.75
$0.60 PEN 2.06
8.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.25
$0.28 PEN 0.96
7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.8
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.34
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.79
-
-
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.6
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿555
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.8
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿303
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.6
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.01
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.8
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.4
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.61
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.53
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.61
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.29
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿603
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.42
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,778
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.56
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.76
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.9
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.51
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿706.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿891.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,103
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿390
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿683
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,274
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿219
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.4K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿557.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,800
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿834
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,039
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,420
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Huánuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Huánuco
–
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Huánuco
–
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Huánuco
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Huánuco
–
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Huánuco
–
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Huánuco
–
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Huánuco
–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $14 in Huánuco. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇵🇪 Huánuco
🕒 Local time
06:35 6:35 AM
18:35 6:35 PM
12 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
89,502
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3.45 PEN (1 PEN = 0.29 USD). 1 EUR = 3.88 PEN (1 PEN = 0.258 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Huánuco 18,900 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Huánuco

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 Huánuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Huánuco?
Chiang Mai costs about 3367% more than Huánuco, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Huánuco?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $40 in Huánuco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Huánuco?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $27 in Huánuco. That makes Huánuco about 97% cheaper.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Huánuco?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $14 in Huánuco. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Huánuco?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $27 in Huánuco to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Huánuco?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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