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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $109 in Huánuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Huánuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $289 in Huánuco, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 698% more than Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Huánuco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Huánuco 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.57 PEN 12.13

-44.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$17.87 PEN 60.8

5.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.86 PEN 2.92

-8.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.58 PEN 1.99

-37.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.58 PEN 5.37

26.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.33 PEN 7.93

18.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.54 PEN 1.85

203.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.55 PEN 1.86

150.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.27 PEN 0.91

159.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.55 PEN 1.85

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.56 PEN 1.89

139.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.35 PEN 4.58

-8.89%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$24.99 PEN 85.0

182.27%

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$19.75 PEN 67.1

-11.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$191 PEN 650

327.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Huánuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $29.00 – making Huánuco 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 Huánuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 698% more than Huánuco, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $163 in Huánuco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $869 in Chiang Mai and $109 in Huánuco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 719% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $109 in Huánuco, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Huánuco costs $109 versus $869 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 Huánuco. 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.