🙂A single person spends $769 per month in Aracatuba vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Aracatuba vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,665 per month in Aracatuba vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Aracatuba is about 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Aracatuba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Aracatuba42% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.36R$27.12
$2.03฿68.5
164.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.27R$138
$18.71฿631
45.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.28R$31.78
$7.84฿265
-19.90%
Cappuccino
$1.79R$9.07
$1.93฿65.0
-7.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07R$5.41
$0.83฿28.05
28.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.33
$0.35฿11.82
88.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84R$9.30
$2.22฿74.9
-17.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64R$13.35
$3.79฿128
-30.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02R$5.14
$1.65฿55.5
-38.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52R$7.71
$1.55฿52.4
-1.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.72
$1.18฿39.86
-4.24%
Eggs
$1.98R$10.01
$2.01฿68.0
-1.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19R$41.41
$16.16฿545
-49.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.60R$18.19
$3.03฿102
18.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.35R$37.17
$10.84฿366
-32.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04R$10.31
$2.68฿90.4
-23.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24R$6.28
$1.22฿41.21
1.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15R$5.82
$1.63฿54.9
-29.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44R$7.30
$1.53฿51.6
-5.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16R$5.87
$1.34฿45.18
-13.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09R$5.53
$1.21฿40.93
-9.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71R$3.57
$0.70฿23.67
1.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.13
$0.53฿17.73
16.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16R$10.92
$4.69฿158
-53.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.62R$38.54
$17.71฿598
-56.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.41
$1.85฿62.3
-31.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08R$10.54
$3.21฿108
-35.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94R$4.76
$0.89฿30.07
5.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.14R$193
$18.76฿633
103.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.61
$1.41฿47.48
-21.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70R$3.56
$1.29฿43.59
-45.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.34R$32.07
$7.79฿263
-18.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04R$5.27
$1.29฿43.67
-19.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KR$105.4K
$21.8K฿734.7K
-4.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KR$141.3K
$21.7K฿732.1K
28.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.5R$311
$70.0฿2,362
-12.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.43R$67.9
$14.19฿479
-5.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.53R$93.7
$17.42฿588
6.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.09R$112
$41.64฿1,405
-46.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.82R$110
$6.89฿233
216.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48R$32.78
$5.78฿195
12.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268R$1,354
$300฿10.1K
-10.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,587R$33.3K
$14.5K฿490.1K
-54.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.45R$250
$55.4฿1,869
-10.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.98R$212
$26.31฿888
59.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3R$381
$84.8฿2,863
-11.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6R$332
$70.5฿2,379
-6.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$319R$1,613
$425฿14.4K
-24.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217R$1,096
$235฿7,933
-7.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592R$2,997
$802฿27.1K
-26.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437R$2,210
$516฿17.4K
-15.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,643R$8,309
$1,926฿65.0K
-14.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,283R$6,491
$1,451฿49.0K
-11.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aracatuba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$373R$1,887
$586฿19.8K
-36.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
5
118.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aracatuba: July 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $319 in Aracatuba versus $425 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 57% 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 Aracatuba versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $174 in Aracatuba vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Aracatuba 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
Aracatuba vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Aracatuba and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $769 in Aracatuba, $847 in Chiang Mai – roughly 10% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Aracatuba compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,154 per month in Aracatuba and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Aracatuba and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aracatuba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Aracatuba and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Aracatuba and $300 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 40% 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.
How far does $1,200 go in Aracatuba compared to Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $769 in Aracatuba and $847 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Aracatuba and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $769 in Aracatuba to $847 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Aracatuba 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 Aracatuba and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Aracatuba. 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.