Chiang Mai vs Lima: cost of living for digital nomads

Chiang Mai, Thailand and Lima, Peru, 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 is about 8% cheaper than Lima for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,200).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Chiang Mai against $540 in Lima.
  • Chiang Mai scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Chiang Mai: 210 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Chiang Mai is tropical; Lima is arid.

Chiang Mai wins 6 of the measured lines; Lima wins 0.

LineChiang MaiLima
Monthly total (USD)$1,100$1,200
Rent$400$540
Food$320$340
Transport$40$40
Coworking$100$100
Safety (out of 10)8/106/10
Internet (Mbps)21080
Climatetropicalarid
City sizemidmetro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)10/107/10

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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.