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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $449 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $639 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $830 in Tacna, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 112% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tacna 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$2.93 PEN 9.82

-28.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$15.13 PEN 50.7

31.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.12 PEN 17.17

13.09%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$3.64 PEN 12.19

-49.73%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$1.16 PEN 3.90

-32.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$0.47 PEN 1.57

-34.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$2.95 PEN 9.88

-20.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.48 PEN 11.69

6.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$1.22 PEN 4.08

66.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.51 PEN 5.06

5.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$0.87 PEN 2.91

63.22%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$1.76 PEN 5.92

23.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$4.45 PEN 14.93

257.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$4.68 PEN 15.68

-34.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$8.93 PEN 29.94

10.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$1.50 PEN 5.04

-26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$0.86 PEN 2.88

89.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$0.72 PEN 2.42

72.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$0.72 PEN 2.41

-30.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.60 PEN 15.42

-6.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$6.46 PEN 21.67

178.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$2.67 PEN 8.94

-36.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

$0.29 PEN 0.96

224.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$1.91 PEN 6.39

-35.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

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

$13.35 ฿439

$19.30 PEN 64.7

-30.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$26.91 PEN 90.2

-22.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

$30.30 PEN 102

33.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$2.65 PEN 8.88

153.21%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$60.2 PEN 202

1206.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$20.47 PEN 68.6

174.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$20.46 PEN 68.6

21.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$26.72 PEN 89.6

181.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

$71.6 PEN 240

300.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$477 PEN 1,600

26.83%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tacna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 27% 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 $15.00 in Tacna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $151 – making Tacna 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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 112% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $673 in Tacna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $15.00 in Tacna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% 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 Tacna, where all-in costs run around $449, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Tacna 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. Tacna costs $449 versus $950 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.