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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $447 per month in Pucallpa vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $752 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,058 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pucallpa is about 48% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pucallpa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pucallpa 67% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 PEN 7.41

$1.94 ฿63.5

12.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.90 PEN 37.07

$18.64 ฿609

-41.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 PEN 16.64

$7.82 ฿255

-37.47%

Cappuccino

$1.92 PEN 6.53

$1.95 ฿63.8

-1.54%

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

$0.98 PEN 3.34

$0.85 ฿27.77

15.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.35 ฿11.58

-17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 PEN 5.61

$2.13 ฿69.6

-22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 PEN 7.46

$3.73 ฿122

-41.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 PEN 3.46

$1.71 ฿56.0

-40.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 PEN 11.55

$1.63 ฿53.2

107.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.87

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.70 PEN 5.77

$1.93 ฿63.1

-11.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.79

$16.21 ฿530

-87.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.00 PEN 13.61

$3.12 ฿102

28.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.23 PEN 11.00

$10.90 ฿356

-70.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 PEN 7.39

$2.75 ฿90.0

-21.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.83

$1.21 ฿39.52

17.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.63

$1.62 ฿53.0

-16.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 PEN 8.60

$1.59 ฿51.8

59.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.23

$1.40 ฿45.70

-32.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 PEN 6.75

$1.17 ฿38.17

69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$0.66 ฿21.60

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PEN 3.18

$0.53 ฿17.22

75.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 PEN 15.38

$4.69 ฿153

-3.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 PEN 26.26

$18.66 ฿609

-58.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 PEN 7.75

$1.80 ฿58.8

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 PEN 11.08

$3.23 ฿106

0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 PEN 3.87

$0.90 ฿29.26

26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PEN 4.83

$1.41 ฿45.91

0.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PEN 1.80

$1.29 ฿42.12

-58.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 PEN 4.09

$1.27 ฿41.58

-5.51%

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)

$50.6 PEN 172

$69.1 ฿2,256

-26.77%

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

$14.65 PEN 49.86

$14.08 ฿460

4.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.08 PEN 140

$18.00 ฿588

128.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 PEN 170

$54.7 ฿1,787

-8.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.06 PEN 112

$26.77 ฿874

23.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.23 PEN 113

$85.0 ฿2,776

-60.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 PEN 221

$70.6 ฿2,306

-8.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 PEN 382

$428 ฿14.0K

-73.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 PEN 764

$801 ฿26.2K

-71.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PEN 406

$515 ฿16.8K

-76.86%

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)

$415 PEN 1,411

$617 ฿20.2K

-32.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Pucallpa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $112 in Pucallpa versus $428 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 49% 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 $11.00 in Pucallpa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $246 – making Pucallpa 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Pucallpa, 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 $671 per month in Pucallpa and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pucallpa, 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 $447 in Pucallpa and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 $447 in Pucallpa and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $447 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 Pucallpa. 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.