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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $345 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $458 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $571 in Tacna, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.97 PEN 6.69

-1.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.43 PEN 8.26

-19.75%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.29 PEN 0.99

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.93 PEN 3.17

83.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.35 PEN 4.60

20.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.94 PEN 3.21

21.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.37 PEN 4.66

40.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.11 PEN 13.99

294.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.65 PEN 12.42

-14.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.15 PEN 27.73

33.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.54 PEN 1.85

159.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.44 PEN 1.48

165.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.29 PEN 0.99

127.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.66 PEN 2.25

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.15 PEN 14.12

13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.32 PEN 21.51

195.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.46 PEN 8.37

-26.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.27 PEN 0.91

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.37 PEN 4.68

2.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

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

$14.08 ฿460

$19.74 PEN 67.2

-28.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$25.04 PEN 85.2

-28.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$28.25 PEN 96.1

45.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.56 PEN 8.70

131.25%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$56.3 PEN 192

430.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$19.51 PEN 66.4

180.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$19.27 PEN 65.6

38.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$25.18 PEN 85.7

180.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$66.0 PEN 224

259.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

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

$472 PEN 1,606

30.79%

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 Tacna: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 31% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Tacna, 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 $517 in Tacna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $345 in Tacna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 99% 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 $345 in Tacna, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tacna costs $345 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 Tacna. 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.