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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $447 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $752 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,058 in Pucallpa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Pucallpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Pucallpa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Pucallpa 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.18 PEN 7.41

-11.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$10.90 PEN 37.07

71.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.89 PEN 16.64

59.92%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.92 PEN 6.53

1.56%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.98 PEN 3.34

-13.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.29 PEN 1.00

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.65 PEN 5.61

29.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.19 PEN 7.46

70.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.02 PEN 3.46

67.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.39 PEN 11.55

-51.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.14 PEN 3.87

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.70 PEN 5.77

13.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$2.00 PEN 6.79

710.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.00 PEN 13.61

-22.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$3.23 PEN 11.00

237.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.17 PEN 7.39

26.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.42 PEN 4.83

-14.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.36 PEN 4.63

19.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.53 PEN 8.60

-37.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.95 PEN 3.23

47.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.98 PEN 6.75

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.72 PEN 2.46

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.93 PEN 3.18

-43.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.52 PEN 15.38

3.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.72 PEN 26.26

141.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.28 PEN 7.75

-21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.26 PEN 11.08

-0.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.14 PEN 3.87

-21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.42 PEN 4.83

-0.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.53 PEN 1.80

143.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.20 PEN 4.09

5.83%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$50.6 PEN 172

36.56%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$14.65 PEN 49.86

-3.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$41.08 PEN 140

-56.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$49.95 PEN 170

9.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$33.06 PEN 112

-19.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$33.23 PEN 113

155.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$64.8 PEN 221

8.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$112 PEN 382

281.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$225 PEN 764

256.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$119 PEN 406

332.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$415 PEN 1,411

48.93%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $112 in Pucallpa. 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 49% 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 $11.00 in Pucallpa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $183 – making Pucallpa 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 Pucallpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Pucallpa, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $671 in Pucallpa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pucallpa, 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $447 in Pucallpa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 35% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $447 in Pucallpa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $447 versus $866 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 Pucallpa. 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.