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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,747 per month in Barreiro vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,392 per month in Barreiro vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,037 per month in Barreiro vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Barreiro costs about 105% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Barreiro sits 31% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.10 €12.29
$2.04 ฿68.4
591.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.96 €40.94
$18.71 ฿626
150.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.01 €8.73
$7.86 ฿263
27.35%
Cappuccino
$2.47 €2.16
$2.03 ฿67.9
21.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 €1.85
$0.80 ฿26.71
165.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$0.35 ฿11.71
554.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 €1.98
$2.14 ฿71.7
6.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 €2.98
$3.67 ฿123
-6.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.73 ฿57.8
-37.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 €1.35
$1.57 ฿52.5
-1.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 €1.55
$1.20 ฿40.10
48.33%
Eggs
$3.09 €2.70
$1.97 ฿66.0
56.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.51 €8.29
$16.23 ฿543
-41.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.89 €6.88
$3.06 ฿102
157.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.22 €12.40
$10.80 ฿361
31.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 €2.23
$2.77 ฿92.6
-7.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 €1.23
$1.17 ฿39.05
20.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 €1.78
$1.71 ฿57.1
19.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.59 ฿53.3
-5.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 €1.34
$1.39 ฿46.63
10.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 €1.95
$1.16 ฿38.67
92.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 €0.80
$0.66 ฿22.11
37.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 €0.57
$0.52 ฿17.35
26.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.89 €5.13
$4.65 ฿155
26.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.11 €5.33
$17.78 ฿595
-65.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.13
$1.79 ฿59.8
-27.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 €0.96
$3.34 ฿112
-67.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.91 ฿30.35
62.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.10 €40.19
$18.64 ฿624
147.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 €3.60
$1.41 ฿47.17
192.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 €1.09
$1.34 ฿44.82
-6.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.67 €15.41
$8.11 ฿271
117.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.71
$1.23 ฿41.27
60.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.5K
$21.4K ฿717.0K
63.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K €34.1K
$21.8K ฿730.0K
79.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 €126
$71.3 ฿2,386
101.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.60 €19.70
$14.01 ฿469
61.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.25 €36.83
$17.93 ฿600
135.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.51 €29.21
$40.82 ฿1,365
-17.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.62 €11.88
$6.88 ฿230
97.97%
Cinema Ticket
$8.50 €7.41
$5.72 ฿191
48.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 €548
$308 ฿10.3K
103.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$14.7K ฿491.0K
11.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 €75.2
$55.8 ฿1,865
54.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 €33.81
$26.04 ฿871
48.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 €75.6
$84.8 ฿2,837
2.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.9 €80.1
$71.0 ฿2,375
29.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 €852
$423 ฿14.2K
131.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$796 €694
$242 ฿8,110
228.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,535 €1,338
$797 ฿26.7K
92.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,085 €946
$507 ฿17.0K
114.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,060 €3,539
$1,918 ฿64.2K
111.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,863 €2,496
$1,464 ฿49.0K
95.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$917 €799
$595 ฿19.9K
54.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.43
5
8.60%

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

Last update for Barreiro: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Barreiro 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 54% higher in Barreiro, 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 $47.00 in Barreiro versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Barreiro vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Barreiro 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
Barreiro vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Barreiro and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,747 in Barreiro, $852 in Chiang Mai – roughly 105% apart. Barreiro costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Barreiro compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,620 per month in Barreiro 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 Barreiro and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barreiro or Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,747 in Barreiro and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Barreiro and in Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 147% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Barreiro at $1,747. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barreiro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Barreiro and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Barreiro has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $852 in Chiang Mai to $1,747 in Barreiro. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Barreiro 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 Barreiro and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barreiro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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