Chiang Mai vs Cuenca: cost of living for digital nomads
Chiang Mai, Thailand and Cuenca, Ecuador, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Chiang Mai and Cuenca cost about the same per month ($1,100).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Chiang Mai against $480 in Cuenca.
- Chiang Mai scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Chiang Mai: 210 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Chiang Mai is tropical; Cuenca is temperate.
Chiang Mai wins 4 of the measured lines; Cuenca wins 2.
| Line | Chiang Mai | Cuenca |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,100 |
| Rent | $400 | $480 |
| Food | $320 | $320 |
| Transport | $40 | $35 |
| Coworking | $100 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 210 | 60 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | mid | mid |
| Setting | inland | mountain |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 10/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Chiang Mai with
Compare Cuenca with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.