ðA single person spends $1,714 per month in Barreiro vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,390 per month in Barreiro vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,065 per month in Barreiro vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðBarreiro costs about 101% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBarreiro sits 28% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.83âŽ11.81
$1.96āļŋ63.6
605.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.98âŽ39.27
$18.81āļŋ611
144.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00âŽ8.54
$7.92āļŋ258
26.26%
Cappuccino
$2.54âŽ2.17
$1.91āļŋ62.2
32.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11âŽ1.80
$0.84āļŋ27.25
151.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36âŽ2.02
$0.35āļŋ11.44
574.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34âŽ1.99
$2.21āļŋ71.7
5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56âŽ3.04
$3.80āļŋ124
-6.32%
ð Groceries & Markets
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07âŽ0.92
$1.64āļŋ53.2
-34.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52âŽ1.29
$1.62āļŋ52.8
-6.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77âŽ1.51
$1.18āļŋ38.40
50.00%
Eggs
$3.10âŽ2.64
$2.01āļŋ65.4
54.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20âŽ7.86
$15.89āļŋ517
-42.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.82âŽ6.68
$3.01āļŋ98.0
159.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44âŽ12.33
$10.77āļŋ350
34.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56âŽ2.19
$2.61āļŋ85.0
-1.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46âŽ1.25
$1.22āļŋ39.65
19.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11âŽ1.80
$1.70āļŋ55.4
24.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45âŽ1.24
$1.58āļŋ51.2
-8.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46âŽ1.25
$1.32āļŋ42.89
10.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13âŽ1.82
$1.17āļŋ38.01
82.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86âŽ0.73
$0.67āļŋ21.85
28.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71âŽ0.61
$0.56āļŋ18.21
26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.12âŽ5.22
$4.53āļŋ147
35.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.40âŽ5.47
$18.20āļŋ592
-64.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30âŽ1.11
$1.83āļŋ59.6
-28.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15âŽ0.98
$3.23āļŋ105
-64.40%
ð Getting Around
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.49âŽ1.27
$0.89āļŋ28.83
67.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.95âŽ39.24
$19.38āļŋ630
137.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.07âŽ3.47
$1.35āļŋ43.95
201.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19âŽ1.02
$1.35āļŋ43.79
-11.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.23âŽ14.72
$8.25āļŋ268
108.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89âŽ1.61
$1.27āļŋ41.40
48.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KâŽ29.4K
$21.2Kāļŋ687.8K
62.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KâŽ33.4K
$22.5Kāļŋ731.0K
73.82%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144âŽ123
$70.2āļŋ2,281
105.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.66âŽ19.35
$13.77āļŋ448
64.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.65âŽ37.28
$17.60āļŋ572
148.01%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.54âŽ28.65
$41.57āļŋ1,352
-19.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.08âŽ12.02
$6.60āļŋ215
113.33%
Cinema Ticket
$8.78âŽ7.50
$5.78āļŋ188
51.90%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$630âŽ538
$306āļŋ9,953
105.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4KâŽ14.0K
$14.8Kāļŋ482.0K
10.54%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.0âŽ73.5
$54.4āļŋ1,768
58.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.84âŽ34.02
$26.14āļŋ850
52.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.7âŽ73.2
$84.5āļŋ2,748
1.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.9âŽ79.3
$69.4āļŋ2,257
33.80%
ð Accommodation & Living
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977âŽ834
$424āļŋ13.8K
130.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$796âŽ680
$238āļŋ7,743
234.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,522âŽ1,299
$825āļŋ26.8K
84.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,094âŽ935
$515āļŋ16.7K
112.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,035âŽ3,446
$2,049āļŋ66.6K
96.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,962âŽ2,530
$1,523āļŋ49.5K
94.51%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Barreiro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$945âŽ807
$635āļŋ20.6K
48.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
5
8.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barreiro: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Barreiro versus $424 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.
ð°Salaries run about 49% higher in Barreiro, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Barreiro versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story â $235 in Barreiro vs $243 in Chiang Mai â 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 Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,714 in Barreiro, $852 in Chiang Mai â roughly 101% 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 $2,571 per month in Barreiro and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 $1,714 in Barreiro and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Barreiro and Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 137% 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 $1,714. 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 $1,714 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 â 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.