Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Puerto Ayora Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Puerto Ayora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $917 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,415 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,914 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 7% cheaper than Puerto Ayora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Puerto Ayora are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Puerto Ayora 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.43 $4.43

-55.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$40.11 $40.11

-53.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.11 $7.11

11.39%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.84 $2.84

-32.75%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.37 $1.37

-38.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.99 $0.99

-64.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.78 $2.78

-20.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.11 $4.11

-7.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.10 $1.10

49.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.69 $1.69

-4.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.64 $1.64

-28.05%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.74 $3.74

-46.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$3.60 $3.60

341.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.65 $5.65

-46.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.14 $10.14

6.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.98 $2.98

-12.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.15 $1.15

6.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.44 $1.44

18.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.05 $1.05

50.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.27 $1.27

3.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.76 $1.76

-33.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.70 $0.70

-4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.06 $1.06

-47.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$5.87 $5.87

-22.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.90 $8.90

104.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.54 $1.54

18.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.76 $2.76

17.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.36 $0.36

147.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$24.18 $24.18

-19.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.28 $1.28

5.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.46 $1.46

-7.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$10.01 $10.01

-17.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.64 $0.64

98.44%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.1K $20.1K

5.04%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$28.3K $28.3K

-20.56%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$36.79 $36.79

90.68%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$13.88 $13.88

-0.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$30.85 $30.85

-42.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$30.49 $30.49

36.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$14.86 $14.86

-55.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.05 $7.05

-18.01%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$254 $254

20.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,589 $5,589

165.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$55.4 $55.4

-1.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$43.80 $43.80

-40.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$96.0 $96.0

-11.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$64.9 $64.9

7.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$342 $342

23.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$324 $324

-26.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$619 $619

33.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$498 $498

3.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,356 $1,356

51.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$869 $869

75.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$795 $795

-20.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

-52.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Puerto Ayora: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $342 in Puerto Ayora. 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 25% higher in Puerto Ayora, 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 $40.00 in Puerto Ayora. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $205 in Puerto Ayora – so Puerto Ayora 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 Puerto Ayora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puerto Ayora costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,376 in Puerto Ayora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $254 in Puerto Ayora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Puerto Ayora – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $917 in Puerto Ayora, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $917 in Puerto Ayora. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puerto Ayora makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.