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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $678 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,210 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,741 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 32% lower, Iquitos 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$4.44 PEN 14.98

-53.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$38.60 PEN 130

-49.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.46 PEN 25.17

-23.99%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$3.48 PEN 11.73

-47.99%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.88 PEN 2.96

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.62 PEN 2.09

-43.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$3.03 PEN 10.23

-27.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$7.28 PEN 24.55

-47.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.82 PEN 6.13

12.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$2.43 PEN 8.20

-37.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.66 PEN 8.96

-15.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$3.31 PEN 11.16

-12.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.87 PEN 2.94

-39.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$35.89 PEN 121

77.35%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$11.42 PEN 38.54

12.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$8.74 PEN 29.48

134.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$29.65 PEN 100

31.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$8.68 PEN 29.29

-54.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.00 PEN 20.23

9.67%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$2,904 PEN 9,798

405.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$87.5 PEN 295

-37.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$36.35 PEN 123

-31.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$53.0 PEN 179

77.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$27.22 PEN 91.9

171.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$358 PEN 1,207

37.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$270 PEN 911

6.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$899 PEN 3,035

-0.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$748 PEN 2,524

-30.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$585 PEN 1,974

2.84%

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 Iquitos: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $358 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 3% 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 $39.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $80.0 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,018 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $678 in Iquitos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 201% 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 Iquitos, where all-in costs run around $678, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Iquitos 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. Iquitos costs $678 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 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.