Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Perez Zeledon

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,317 in Perez Zeledon, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
64

Cost of Living Index in Perez Zeledon
Learn more

Perez Zeledon Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Perez Zeledon

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,317

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Perez Zeledon

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,317 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Perez Zeledon $1,317

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,364 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Perez Zeledon $2,364

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,410 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Perez Zeledon $3,410

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Perez Zeledon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Perez Zeledon are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Perez Zeledon 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$9.09 ₡4,102

-75.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$37.24 ₡16.8K

-48.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$8.19 ₡3,699

-32.23%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$2.70 ₡1,217

-38.15%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$1.97 ₡887

-67.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$1.78 ₡805

-82.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.73 ₡780

36.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.21 ₡1,447

14.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.60 ₡724

21.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$3.13 ₡1,413

-53.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$2.49 ₡1,122

-46.59%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.49 ₡1,126

-8.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$10.73 ₡4,846

53.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$10.28 ₡4,639

-72.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$14.14 ₡6,384

-34.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$5.24 ₡2,365

-55.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.08 ₡488

-10.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$4.89 ₡2,206

-67.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$3.85 ₡1,737

-61.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$3.72 ₡1,680

-65.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$3.59 ₡1,622

-69.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$0.45 ₡205

57.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$3.09 ₡1,394

-84.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$5.57 ₡2,516

-25.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$19.80 ₡8,937

-11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$2.87 ₡1,297

-43.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$3.63 ₡1,638

-23.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.81 ₡364

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$2.49 ₡1,126

-53.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$1.63 ₡737

-67.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$8.76 ₡3,955

-72.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.52 ₡688

-4.61%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$33.8K ₡15.2M

-37.61%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$42.1K ₡19.0M

-36.02%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$93.6 ₡42.2K

-33.56%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$23.99 ₡10.8K

-49.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$59.2 ₡26.7K

-65.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$67.9 ₡30.7K

-45.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$7.67 ₡3,464

-15.38%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$498 ₡224.8K

47.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$17.3K ₡7.8M

-14.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$71.8 ₡32.4K

-25.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$55.0 ₡24.8K

-55.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$128 ₡57.7K

-28.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$133 ₡60.0K

-45.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$402 ₡181.3K

20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$326 ₡147.1K

-5.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$2,133 ₡963.0K

-52.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$1,260 ₡568.7K

-49.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.62

-35.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Perez Zeledon: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Perez Zeledon

$326 24.8% 5.5% $17

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Perez Zeledon

$383 29.1% 63.5% $149

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Perez Zeledon

$174 13.2% 60.5% $66

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Perez Zeledon

$177 13.4% 87.1% $82

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Perez Zeledon

$160 12.1% 106% $82

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Perez Zeledon

$14 * 1.1% 77.4% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Perez Zeledon

$83 6.3% 65.6% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $402 in Perez Zeledon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $37 in Perez Zeledon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $383 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇷 Perez Zeledon

🕒 Local time

09:01 9:01 AM

20:01 8:01 PM

13 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

135,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Perez Zeledon 16,880 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Perez Zeledon

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 Perez Zeledon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Perez Zeledon costs about 41% more than Chiang Mai, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,975 in Perez Zeledon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Perez Zeledon, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $402 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $37 in Perez Zeledon. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Perez Zeledon, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,317 in Perez Zeledon. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,317 in Perez Zeledon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.