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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,112 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,698 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,285 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Puerto Varas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Puerto Varas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Puerto Varas 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$12.75 CLP 11.5K

-84.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$42.45 CLP 38.2K

-55.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.28 CLP 7,443

-6.40%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.04 CLP 2,729

-36.84%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.04 CLP 937

-24.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.82 CLP 741

-56.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.19 CLP 2,864

-30.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.08 CLP 3,668

-10.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.16 CLP 1,047

42.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.49 CLP 1,343

9.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.95 CLP 1,754

-38.97%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.43 CLP 3,081

-41.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.50 CLP 9,438

52.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.54 CLP 5,882

-53.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.13 CLP 10.0K

-2.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.90 CLP 1,711

45.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.51 CLP 1,354

-21.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.51 CLP 1,361

8.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.51 CLP 1,355

0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.23 CLP 1,105

12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.35 CLP 1,214

-11.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.23 CLP 1,104

-43.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.16 CLP 1,047

-51.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$5.26 CLP 4,726

-12.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.93 CLP 5,327

179.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.55 CLP 1,395

18.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.30 CLP 2,070

39.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.62 CLP 554

41.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.47 CLP 420

189.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.42 CLP 1,275

-13.38%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$19.5K CLP 17.5M

10.79%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$21.1K CLP 19.0M

6.79%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$133 CLP 119.6K

-46.97%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$13.57 CLP 12.2K

0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$22.00 CLP 19.8K

-20.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$37.87 CLP 34.0K

9.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$21.41 CLP 19.2K

-67.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.70 CLP 5,124

1.23%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$436 CLP 391.5K

-29.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$50.2 CLP 45.1K

11.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$30.84 CLP 27.7K

-15.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$60.5 CLP 54.4K

41.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$82.5 CLP 74.2K

-12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$485 CLP 436.2K

-11.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$369 CLP 331.5K

-35.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$877 CLP 787.7K

-6.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$603 CLP 541.5K

-15.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$575 CLP 516.5K

7.68%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Puerto Varas: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $485 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 8% 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 $42.00 in Puerto Varas. Groceries tell a different story – $241 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 28% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,668 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 $42.00 in Puerto Varas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% 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 $869, than in Puerto Varas at $1,112. 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 $869 versus $1,112 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.