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

😐 Solo nomad: Puntarenas is 11.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 46.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Puntarenas is 22.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 46% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 β‚‘3,679
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
263.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.4 β‚‘30.2K
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
221.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.98 β‚‘4,495
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
17.08%
Cappuccino
$3.94 β‚‘1,970
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
98.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 β‚‘1,004
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
145.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 β‚‘791
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
378.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 β‚‘1,459
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
37.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 β‚‘2,394
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
28.15%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2 β‚‘999
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
21.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 β‚‘1,405
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
78.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 β‚‘1,016
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
70.59%
Eggs
$2.27 β‚‘1,137
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
14.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.46 β‚‘1,731
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
-78.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.82 β‚‘3,916
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
150.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 β‚‘4,434
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
-20.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 β‚‘1,739
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
25.72%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 β‚‘491
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
-19.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 β‚‘584
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
-31.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 β‚‘661
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
-14.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 β‚‘772
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
14.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 β‚‘789
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
30.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 β‚‘394
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
9.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 β‚‘988
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
271.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.47 β‚‘2,240
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
-5.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.41 β‚‘3,711
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
-59.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 β‚‘817
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 β‚‘1,186
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
-26.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 β‚‘507
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
7.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 β‚‘923
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
29.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.8 β‚‘902
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.86 β‚‘3,935
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
0.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 β‚‘683
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
8.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K β‚‘19.1M
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
80.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K β‚‘8.5M
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
-22.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.78 β‚‘24.9K
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
-29.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.83 β‚‘9,925
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
44.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.34 β‚‘12.2K
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
38.61%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 β‚‘27.9K
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
33.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.65 β‚‘11.8K
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
242.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.69 β‚‘4,853
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
67.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 β‚‘288K
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
86.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K β‚‘6.4M
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
-12.69%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.85 β‚‘11.9K
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
-56.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.67 β‚‘7,844
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
-40.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 β‚‘62.4K
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
46.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.06 β‚‘24.1K
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
-33.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 β‚‘381.1K
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
75.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$591 β‚‘295.9K
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
151.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,510 β‚‘755.8K
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
83.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$965 β‚‘483.1K
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
93.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$916 β‚‘458.4K
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
-58.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$607 β‚‘303.6K
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
-60.69%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Puntarenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$874 β‚‘437.7K
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
24.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
5
20.00%

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

Last update for Puntarenas: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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