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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $735 in Piura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,256 in Piura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,778 in Piura, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Piura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Piura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Piura 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.67 PEN 12.31

-42.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$25.34 PEN 85.0

-21.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.27 PEN 24.36

-20.36%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.35 PEN 11.23

-45.37%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.12 PEN 3.74

-30.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.72 PEN 2.41

-56.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.34 PEN 7.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.00 PEN 10.06

23.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.46 PEN 4.89

39.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$2.64 PEN 8.85

-39.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.62 PEN 5.43

-12.35%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.87 PEN 9.61

-24.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.80 PEN 36.19

47.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$8.86 PEN 29.69

-65.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.86 PEN 36.40

-9.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.43 PEN 4.78

83.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.30 PEN 4.36

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.51 PEN 5.07

7.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.36 PEN 4.57

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.28 PEN 4.29

-3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.73 PEN 2.46

54.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.91 PEN 3.04

-18.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.37 PEN 4.59

-63.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$8.05 PEN 26.99

-46.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$11.37 PEN 38.13

58.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.91 PEN 6.41

-10.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.91 PEN 9.74

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.70 PEN 2.34

34.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$21.26 PEN 71.3

160.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$3.16 PEN 10.58

-61.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$2.36 PEN 7.91

-77.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$7.58 PEN 25.42

-68.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.49 PEN 4.98

-3.36%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$22.3K PEN 74.8K

-4.97%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$23.9K PEN 80.2K

14.18%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$42.21 PEN 142

53.83%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$8.82 PEN 29.55

51.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$29.64 PEN 99.4

36.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.46 PEN 8.25

172.76%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$200 PEN 670

293.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$2,379 PEN 7,976

535.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$44.11 PEN 148

27.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$13.58 PEN 45.52

83.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$60.7 PEN 203

52.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$75.7 PEN 254

-0.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$236 PEN 790

105.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$132 PEN 444

117.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$407 PEN 1,364

123.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$401 PEN 1,343

32.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$3,896 PEN 13.1K

-49.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$554 PEN 1,856

9.32%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Piura: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $236 in Piura. 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 9% 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 $25.00 in Piura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $259 – making Chiang Mai 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 Piura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Piura, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,102 in Piura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Piura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $200 in Piura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Piura, where all-in costs run around $735, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Piura 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. Piura costs $735 versus $950 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 Piura. 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.