🙂A single person spends $451 per month in Pucallpa vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $739 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,028 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,838 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 – Pucallpa66% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25PEN 7.64
$1.96฿65.7
14.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.17PEN 37.86
$18.35฿616
-39.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.90PEN 16.62
$7.48฿251
-34.49%
Cappuccino
$1.99PEN 6.74
$2.02฿67.7
-1.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99PEN 3.36
$0.85฿28.45
16.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29PEN 0.98
$0.36฿11.94
-19.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.66PEN 5.62
$2.14฿71.7
-22.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24PEN 7.58
$3.59฿121
-37.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98PEN 3.33
$1.65฿55.4
-40.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45PEN 11.71
$1.57฿52.6
119.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08PEN 3.66
$1.19฿39.95
-9.24%
Eggs
$1.63PEN 5.52
$1.94฿65.0
-15.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.90PEN 6.44
$16.19฿544
-88.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85PEN 13.06
$2.99฿100
28.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.27PEN 11.07
$10.94฿367
-70.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24PEN 7.59
$2.71฿91.0
-17.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36PEN 4.61
$1.17฿39.18
16.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42PEN 4.81
$1.69฿56.6
-15.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57PEN 8.70
$1.60฿53.9
60.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89PEN 3.03
$1.38฿46.45
-35.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89PEN 6.40
$1.20฿40.38
57.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71PEN 2.40
$0.67฿22.46
5.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98PEN 3.34
$0.56฿18.70
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.47PEN 15.14
$4.64฿156
-3.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.10PEN 27.46
$17.62฿591
-54.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24PEN 7.60
$1.86฿62.4
20.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31PEN 11.22
$3.30฿111
0.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09PEN 3.70
$0.88฿29.63
23.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿649
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37PEN 4.63
$1.36฿45.82
0.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56PEN 1.91
$1.34฿44.90
-58.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21฿276
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17PEN 3.96
$1.22฿41.11
-4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4K฿716.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿756.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.61PEN 168
$70.7฿2,372
-29.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03PEN 51.0
$14.04฿471
7.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.37PEN 144
$17.49฿587
142.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$42.15฿1,415
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.92฿199
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$309฿10.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.9K฿499.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.28PEN 167
$55.8฿1,872
-11.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.87PEN 115
$26.11฿877
29.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$32.75PEN 111
$83.0฿2,787
-60.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6PEN 219
$70.5฿2,365
-8.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$110PEN 373
$432฿14.5K
-74.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿8,020
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$224PEN 758
$822฿27.6K
-72.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120PEN 407
$512฿17.2K
-76.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pucallpa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$418PEN 1,415
$579฿19.4K
-27.93%
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 Pucallpa: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $110 in Pucallpa versus $432 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 $11.00 in Pucallpa versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $243 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Pucallpa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 91% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pucallpa and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $677 per month in Pucallpa and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pucallpa or Chiang Mai?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Pucallpa compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $451 in Pucallpa and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Pucallpa or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 33% 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 $800/month in Pucallpa or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $451 in Pucallpa and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pucallpa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $451 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pucallpa 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 Pucallpa or to Chiang Mai?
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.