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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $633 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,633 in Iquitos, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Iquitos are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$4.21 PEN 14.30

-52.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$36.32 PEN 123

-48.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.96 PEN 23.65

11.35%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.29 PEN 11.18

-41.64%

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

$0.94 PEN 3.20

-61.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.84 PEN 9.67

-22.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.84 PEN 23.27

-46.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.63 PEN 5.55

1.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.15 PEN 7.32

-24.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.41 PEN 8.20

-17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.11 PEN 10.56

-2.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.85 PEN 2.87

-34.12%

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

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

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

$33.11 PEN 113

113.05%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$10.73 PEN 36.48

27.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$8.29 PEN 28.18

110.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$27.82 PEN 94.6

48.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.46 PEN 28.77

-17.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.61 PEN 19.07

2.85%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$2,698 PEN 9,171

441.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$83.5 PEN 284

-33.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$33.64 PEN 114

-22.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$49.23 PEN 167

74.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$24.79 PEN 84.3

191.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$337 PEN 1,147

27.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$254 PEN 864

-6.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$842 PEN 2,862

-2.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$700 PEN 2,381

-27.07%

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

$579 PEN 1,967

6.96%

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 Iquitos: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $337 in Iquitos. 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 7% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $73.0 in Iquitos – so Iquitos 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 Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Iquitos, 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 $950 in Iquitos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iquitos, 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $633 in Iquitos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 229% 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 $633 in Iquitos, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iquitos costs $633 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 Iquitos. 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.