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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $663 per month in Alfenas vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,186 per month in Alfenas vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Alfenas vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Alfenas is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Alfenas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Alfenas 50% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.55 R$18.01
$2.04 ฿68.2
74.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.51 R$135
$18.71 ฿624
41.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 R$27.02
$7.86 ฿262
-32.19%
Cappuccino
$0.92 R$4.68
$2.03 ฿67.7
-54.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 R$2.62
$0.80 ฿26.64
-35.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 R$2.82
$0.35 ฿11.68
60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 R$10.84
$2.14 ฿71.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 R$14.01
$3.67 ฿122
-24.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 R$5.41
$1.73 ฿57.6
-38.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 R$9.36
$1.57 ฿52.4
17.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.56
$1.20 ฿39.99
7.50%
Eggs
$2.47 R$12.56
$1.97 ฿65.8
25.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 R$57.0
$16.23 ฿541
-30.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 R$21.24
$3.06 ฿102
36.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 R$45.59
$10.80 ฿360
-16.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 R$14.01
$2.77 ฿92.3
-0.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 R$9.29
$1.17 ฿38.94
56.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 R$8.23
$1.71 ฿57.0
-5.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 R$9.27
$1.59 ฿53.2
15.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.10
$1.39 ฿46.51
0.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.55
$1.16 ฿38.56
11.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 R$5.02
$0.66 ฿22.05
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 R$3.68
$0.52 ฿17.31
40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.77 R$8.98
$4.65 ฿155
-61.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.73 R$49.36
$17.78 ฿593
-45.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 R$6.91
$1.79 ฿59.6
-24.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 R$11.64
$3.34 ฿111
-31.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 R$4.64
$0.91 ฿30.27
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.26 R$199
$18.64 ฿622
110.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 R$5.43
$1.41 ฿47.04
-24.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 R$3.83
$1.34 ฿44.70
-44.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.95 R$45.43
$8.11 ฿270
10.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 R$5.60
$1.23 ฿41.16
-10.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K R$110.9K
$21.4K ฿715.1K
1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K R$136.7K
$21.8K ฿728.0K
23.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.9 R$278
$71.3 ฿2,379
-23.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.02 R$66.1
$14.01 ฿467
-7.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.32 R$93.0
$17.93 ฿598
2.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.87 R$116
$40.82 ฿1,362
-43.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.51 R$109
$6.88 ฿230
212.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 R$31.79
$5.72 ฿191
9.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 R$2,473
$308 ฿10.3K
58.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K R$77.6K
$14.7K ฿489.7K
4.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 R$262
$55.8 ฿1,860
-7.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.13 R$214
$26.04 ฿869
61.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 R$403
$84.8 ฿2,829
-6.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 R$378
$71.0 ฿2,368
5.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$313 R$1,588
$423 ฿14.1K
-26.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$91.0 R$462
$242 ฿8,088
-62.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$580 R$2,942
$797 ฿26.6K
-27.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 R$2,144
$507 ฿16.9K
-16.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,743 R$8,843
$1,918 ฿64.0K
-9.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,181 R$5,995
$1,464 ฿48.8K
-19.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alfenas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$484 R$2,454
$595 ฿19.9K
-18.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.56
5
131.20%

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

Last update for Alfenas: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $313 in Alfenas versus $423 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 23% 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 $27.00 in Alfenas versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Alfenas vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Alfenas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Alfenas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Alfenas and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $663 in Alfenas, $852 in Chiang Mai – roughly 29% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Alfenas compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $995 per month in Alfenas and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Alfenas and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alfenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 13% 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Alfenas and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Alfenas compared to Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $663 in Alfenas and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Alfenas and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $663 in Alfenas to $852 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Alfenas or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Alfenas and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Alfenas. 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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