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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,128 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,685 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,241 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Puerto Varas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Puerto Varas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Puerto Varas 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$12.71 CLP 11.4K

-84.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$42.94 CLP 38.5K

-56.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$8.12 CLP 7,276

-2.46%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$3.17 CLP 2,835

-39.75%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$1.04 CLP 934

-19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.90 CLP 809

-61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$3.21 CLP 2,874

-31.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.07 CLP 3,648

-6.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.17 CLP 1,046

40.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.52 CLP 1,358

6.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$1.92 CLP 1,717

-38.54%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$3.58 CLP 3,210

-43.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$10.57 CLP 9,471

50.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$6.64 CLP 5,946

-54.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$10.84 CLP 9,711

-0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$1.87 CLP 1,674

39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.53 CLP 1,369

-20.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.58 CLP 1,413

7.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.46 CLP 1,311

8.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$1.27 CLP 1,139

3.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.34 CLP 1,201

-12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.26 CLP 1,128

-46.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$1.17 CLP 1,044

-52.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$5.40 CLP 4,840

-16.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$5.17 CLP 4,630

252.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.57 CLP 1,403

16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.28 CLP 2,045

41.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.62 CLP 558

43.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$0.48 CLP 427

181.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.39 CLP 1,243

-8.63%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$19.9K CLP 17.8M

6.18%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$21.6K CLP 19.3M

4.22%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$131 CLP 117.5K

-46.52%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$13.61 CLP 12.2K

1.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$21.56 CLP 19.3K

-18.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$38.03 CLP 34.1K

9.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$20.88 CLP 18.7K

-68.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$5.55 CLP 4,968

4.14%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$428 CLP 383.8K

-28.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$51.4 CLP 46.1K

5.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$30.01 CLP 26.9K

-12.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$62.8 CLP 56.2K

34.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$81.8 CLP 73.2K

-15.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$490 CLP 438.5K

-13.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$379 CLP 339.9K

-37.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$885 CLP 792.6K

-6.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$599 CLP 536.6K

-14.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$573 CLP 513.5K

10.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

-3.47%

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 Varas: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $490 in Puerto Varas. 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 11% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $43.00 in Puerto Varas. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $227 in Puerto Varas – so Puerto Varas 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 Varas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puerto Varas costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,692 in Puerto Varas. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $43.00 in Puerto Varas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

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

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Puerto Varas at $1,128. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto Varas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,128 in Puerto Varas. 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 Varas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.