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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $518 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $854 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,190 in Pucallpa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 83% more than Pucallpa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Pucallpa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Pucallpa 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.42 PEN 8.11

-14.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$11.82 PEN 39.64

66.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.36 PEN 17.98

5.41%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.05 PEN 6.87

-11.71%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$1.01 PEN 3.40

-29.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.31 PEN 1.05

3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.82 PEN 6.11

23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.43 PEN 8.14

49.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.05 PEN 3.51

86.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$3.80 PEN 12.76

-60.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.20 PEN 4.04

11.67%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.80 PEN 6.05

25.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$2.11 PEN 7.06

670.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.26 PEN 14.28

-30.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$3.49 PEN 11.71

184.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$2.33 PEN 7.81

10.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.45 PEN 4.88

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.47 PEN 4.93

9.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.74 PEN 9.19

-44.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$2.95 PEN 9.90

-56.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$2.10 PEN 7.04

-49.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$2.33 PEN 7.82

-69.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$1.02 PEN 3.42

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.74 PEN 15.89

-11.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.10 PEN 27.16

120.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.43 PEN 8.16

-30.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$3.67 PEN 12.31

-22.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$1.20 PEN 4.03

-22.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.51 PEN 5.06

-18.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.57 PEN 1.92

1.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.25 PEN 4.18

12.80%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$54.1 PEN 181

17.75%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$36.00 PEN 121

-64.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$43.74 PEN 147

-53.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$54.5 PEN 183

-0.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$36.01 PEN 121

-29.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$35.19 PEN 118

168.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$69.4 PEN 233

5.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$118 PEN 397

313.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$239 PEN 801

274.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$127 PEN 425

308.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$418 PEN 1,403

43.93%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $118 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 44% 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 $12.00 in Pucallpa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $209 – 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 83% more than Pucallpa, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $776 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 $947 in Chiang Mai and $518 in Pucallpa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pucallpa, where all-in costs run around $518, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Pucallpa 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. Pucallpa costs $518 versus $947 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.