Cost of Living Comparison Between HuΓ‘nuco and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between HuΓ‘nuco and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $109 per month in HuΓ‘nuco vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $199 per month in HuΓ‘nuco vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $289 per month in HuΓ‘nuco vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

HuΓ‘nuco is about 87% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both HuΓ‘nuco and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – HuΓ‘nuco 92% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 PENΒ 12.13
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.3
80.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.87 PENΒ 60.8
$18.80 ΰΈΏ612
-4.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.75 ΰΈΏ252
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.92 ΰΈΏ62.5
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 PENΒ 2.92
$0.79 ΰΈΏ25.79
8.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 PENΒ 1.99
$0.36 ΰΈΏ11.62
61.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21 ΰΈΏ72.1
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 ΰΈΏ119
-
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.65 ΰΈΏ53.8
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.63 ΰΈΏ53.2
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.86
-
Eggs
$1.58 PENΒ 5.37
$2.00 ΰΈΏ65.1
-21.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$15.98 ΰΈΏ520
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.03 ΰΈΏ98.5
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.86 ΰΈΏ354
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 PENΒ 7.93
$2.76 ΰΈΏ90.0
-15.58%
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.18 ΰΈΏ38.42
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.54 PENΒ 1.85
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.5
-67.07%
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.52 ΰΈΏ49.51
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 PENΒ 1.86
$1.38 ΰΈΏ45.10
-60.14%
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.84
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 PENΒ 0.91
$0.70 ΰΈΏ22.86
-61.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 PENΒ 1.85
$0.56 ΰΈΏ18.13
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.58 ΰΈΏ149
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$16.56 ΰΈΏ539
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83 ΰΈΏ59.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.20 ΰΈΏ104
-
🚌 Getting Around
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.88 ΰΈΏ28.56
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.72 ΰΈΏ610
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.36 ΰΈΏ44.16
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 PENΒ 1.89
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.65
-58.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84 ΰΈΏ256
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 PENΒ 4.58
$1.23 ΰΈΏ39.92
9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.6K ΰΈΏ704.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K ΰΈΏ734.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.99 PENΒ 85.0
$70.5 ΰΈΏ2,298
-64.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.68 ΰΈΏ445
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75 PENΒ 67.1
$17.45 ΰΈΏ568
13.18%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.33 ΰΈΏ1,346
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ΰΈΏ227
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.77 ΰΈΏ188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$307 ΰΈΏ10.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.6K ΰΈΏ475.9K
-
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8 ΰΈΏ1,817
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.21 ΰΈΏ854
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.8 ΰΈΏ2,793
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$72.2 ΰΈΏ2,353
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$430 ΰΈΏ14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$239 ΰΈΏ7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 PENΒ 650
$817 ΰΈΏ26.6K
-76.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$511 ΰΈΏ16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,983 ΰΈΏ64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,484 ΰΈΏ48.3K
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
HuΓ‘nuco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$619 ΰΈΏ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for HuΓ‘nuco: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in HuΓ‘nuco versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $29.00 vs $241 – making HuΓ‘nuco 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
HuΓ‘nuco vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, HuΓ‘nuco or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 698% more than HuΓ‘nuco, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in HuΓ‘nuco vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $163 per month in HuΓ‘nuco and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in HuΓ‘nuco compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $109 in HuΓ‘nuco and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in HuΓ‘nuco or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 719% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in HuΓ‘nuco or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $109 in HuΓ‘nuco and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, HuΓ‘nuco or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. HuΓ‘nuco costs $109 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is HuΓ‘nuco compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to HuΓ‘nuco or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with HuΓ‘nuco. 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.

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