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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $699 per month in Cusco vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,042 per month in Cusco vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Cusco vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cusco is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cusco and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cusco 49% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.43

$2.08 ฿69.4

20.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.2

$19.64 ฿654

6.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.62

$5.65 ฿188

13.98%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.50

$1.81 ฿60.1

23.20%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.70

$0.71 ฿23.75

12.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$0.32 ฿10.52

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.81

$2.24 ฿74.5

-9.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.56

$3.63 ฿121

19.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.48

$1.96 ฿65.2

-32.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.98

$1.50 ฿50.0

58.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.42

$1.34 ฿44.49

-2.24%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.12

$2.26 ฿75.4

59.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 16.02

$16.26 ฿541

-70.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.67

$2.95 ฿98.4

47.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.60

$9.94 ฿331

-26.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.88

$2.57 ฿85.7

2.72%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$1.06 ฿35.18

-24.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.96

$1.61 ฿53.7

-8.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.94

$1.52 ฿50.6

-42.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$1.27 ฿42.30

-16.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.63

$1.07 ฿35.51

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.72 ฿23.98

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.51 ฿16.94

39.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.25

$17.87 ฿595

-66.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.62

$1.69 ฿56.4

16.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.33

$2.84 ฿94.5

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.93 ฿30.82

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.15

$1.23 ฿41.11

48.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.32

$0.58 ฿19.20

224.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.88

$2.42 ฿80.7

21.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.23

$1.41 ฿47.03

10.64%

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

$21.4K ฿714.1K

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

$27.3K ฿910.2K

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

$29.75 PEN 100.0

$63.7 ฿2,120

-53.27%

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

$14.73 PEN 49.51

$12.85 ฿428

14.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$20.22 ฿673

121.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$38.74 ฿1,290

-8.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.77

$6.74 ฿224

-34.87%

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

$778 ฿25.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿486.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

$54.3 ฿1,808

-28.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

$25.45 ฿847

32.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 184

$94.3 ฿3,141

-41.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 252

$73.4 ฿2,446

2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 509

$490 ฿16.3K

-69.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 605

$289 ฿9,634

-37.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,220

$894 ฿29.8K

-59.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 897

$517 ฿17.2K

-48.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

$1,955 ฿65.1K

102.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,967

$1,477 ฿49.2K

20.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,454

$602 ฿20.0K

-28.14%

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 Cusco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Cusco versus $490 in Chiang Mai. 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 39% 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 $21.00 in Cusco versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Cusco vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Cusco 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

Cusco vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Cusco, 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 $1,049 per month in Cusco and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $699 in Cusco and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cusco, where all-in costs run around $699, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Cusco 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. Cusco costs $699 versus $947 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 Cusco. 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.