Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Trujillo and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Trujillo: $867 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Trujillo
🇵🇪 Peru
$867
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Trujillo and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Trujillo and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $867 per month in Trujillo vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Trujillo $867
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,330 per month in Trujillo vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Trujillo $1,330
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $1,793 per month in Trujillo vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Trujillo $1,793
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Trujillo is about 6% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Trujillo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Trujillo 36% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 PEN 12.09
$2.29 ฿76.5
53.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.28 PEN 79.9
$19.64 ฿656
18.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 PEN 24.83
$5.61 ฿188
28.88%
Cappuccino
$3.25 PEN 11.16
$1.66 ฿55.6
95.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 PEN 3.27
$0.70 ฿23.40
35.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 PEN 2.21
$0.31 ฿10.24
106.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 PEN 7.01
$2.41 ฿80.4
-15.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 PEN 12.18
$3.71 ฿124
-4.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 PEN 4.69
$1.95 ฿65.3
-29.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 PEN 6.80
$1.41 ฿47.03
40.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 PEN 3.87
$1.31 ฿43.62
-13.74%
Eggs
$4.04 PEN 13.86
$2.18 ฿72.9
85.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.80 PEN 26.80
$16.65 ฿556
-53.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 PEN 22.23
$2.76 ฿92.2
134.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 PEN 30.84
$9.11 ฿304
-1.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 PEN 5.54
$2.39 ฿80.0
-32.64%
Banana (1kg)
$0.56 PEN 1.92
$1.03 ฿34.26
-45.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.60 PEN 2.05
$1.63 ฿54.4
-63.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.84 PEN 2.89
$1.50 ฿50.0
-44.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 PEN 3.15
$1.29 ฿43.13
-28.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 PEN 4.02
$1.11 ฿37.03
5.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 PEN 4.37
$0.72 ฿24.08
76.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 PEN 3.86
$0.53 ฿17.59
113.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 PEN 14.85
$4.31 ฿144
0.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 PEN 19.74
$17.95 ฿600
-67.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 PEN 6.02
$1.58 ฿52.9
10.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 PEN 5.34
$2.84 ฿95.0
-45.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 PEN 2.09
$0.86 ฿28.86
-29.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.48 PEN 60.0
$53.3 ฿1,780
-67.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 PEN 8.36
$1.21 ฿40.29
101.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 PEN 7.61
$0.57 ฿18.99
289.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.68 PEN 19.49
$2.35 ฿78.6
141.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 PEN 5.54
$1.44 ฿47.96
11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K PEN 59.8K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
-15.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K PEN 93.8K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.0 PEN 333
$62.3 ฿2,083
55.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.04 PEN 44.78
$12.11 ฿405
7.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.64 PEN 94.9
$19.94 ฿666
38.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.30 PEN 138
$37.07 ฿1,239
8.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.65 PEN 19.40
$3.78 ฿126
49.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.42 PEN 15.17
$6.50 ฿217
-32.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 PEN 378
$793 ฿26.5K
-86.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,117 PEN 7,270
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-85.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.2 PEN 245
$53.7 ฿1,796
32.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.32 PEN 49.18
$24.62 ฿823
-41.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.74 PEN 161
$90.9 ฿3,036
-48.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.36 PEN 152
$71.1 ฿2,378
-37.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$384 PEN 1,318
$455 ฿15.2K
-15.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 PEN 868
$298 ฿9,954
-15.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 PEN 2,506
$908 ฿30.4K
-19.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$493 PEN 1,694
$554 ฿18.5K
-10.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,166 PEN 4,005
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-39.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trujillo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$539 PEN 1,851
$591 ฿19.7K
-8.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.7
5.57
110.05%

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

Last update for Trujillo: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Trujillo
$253
Chiang Mai
$298 17.8% $45
Groceries & Markets
Trujillo
$202
Chiang Mai
$235 16.7% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trujillo
$138
Chiang Mai
$94 31.4% $43
Eating Out
Trujillo
$113
Chiang Mai
$79 30.2% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Trujillo
$79
Chiang Mai
$108 36.1% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Trujillo
$49
Chiang Mai
$50 1.9% $0.9
Getting Around
Trujillo
$33
Chiang Mai
$61 81.8% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $384 in Trujillo versus $455 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 10% 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 $23.00 in Trujillo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Trujillo vs $235 in Chiang Mai – so Trujillo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Trujillo
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:39 6:39 AM
18:39 6:39 PM
12 h ahead of Trujillo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
314,939
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Trujillo Chiang Mai 18,810 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Trujillo
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Trujillo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Trujillo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Trujillo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Trujillo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Trujillo and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Trujillo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Trujillo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Trujillo and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Trujillo and $793 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Trujillo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 $1,500/month in Trujillo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Trujillo, where all-in costs run around $867, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Trujillo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Trujillo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Trujillo costs $867 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Trujillo 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 Trujillo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Trujillo. 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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