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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $772 in Belem versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,253 in Belem versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,734 in Belem versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Belem costs roughly 11% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belem 42% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 R$22.39

$1.94 ฿63.6

128.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.57 R$145

$18.64 ฿609

53.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.16 R$31.15

$7.82 ฿256

-21.23%

Cappuccino

$1.59 R$8.07

$1.95 ฿63.9

-18.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 R$4.71

$0.85 ฿27.80

9.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 R$2.20

$0.35 ฿11.60

25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 R$8.12

$2.13 ฿69.7

-24.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 R$18.74

$3.73 ฿122

-0.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 R$5.86

$1.71 ฿56.0

-32.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.10 R$10.63

$1.63 ฿53.3

28.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 R$6.24

$1.14 ฿37.18

7.89%

Eggs

$2.02 R$10.21

$1.93 ฿63.2

4.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 R$53.9

$16.21 ฿530

-34.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 R$19.61

$3.12 ฿102

24.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 R$32.88

$10.90 ฿356

-40.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 R$8.55

$2.75 ฿90.1

-38.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.40

$1.21 ฿39.56

37.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 R$6.25

$1.62 ฿53.0

-24.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 R$7.35

$1.59 ฿51.9

-8.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 R$4.66

$1.40 ฿45.75

-34.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 R$2.84

$1.17 ฿38.20

-52.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 R$5.22

$0.66 ฿21.62

56.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 R$6.78

$0.53 ฿17.24

152.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.38 R$12.04

$4.69 ฿153

-49.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 R$48.83

$18.66 ฿610

-48.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 R$6.88

$1.80 ฿58.8

-24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 R$22.42

$3.23 ฿106

37.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 R$3.48

$0.90 ฿29.28

-23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.60 R$109

$19.21 ฿628

12.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 R$5.30

$1.41 ฿45.96

-25.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 R$3.62

$1.29 ฿42.16

-44.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.12 R$46.14

$7.84 ฿256

16.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 R$5.46

$1.27 ฿41.62

-14.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.2K R$81.7K

$21.3K ฿695.5K

-24.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.9K R$146.3K

$22.2K ฿726.1K

30.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$110 R$557

$69.1 ฿2,258

59.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.40 R$72.8

$14.08 ฿460

2.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.23 R$107

$18.00 ฿588

17.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.77 R$105

$41.06 ฿1,342

-49.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.71 R$110

$6.96 ฿227

211.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 R$31.99

$5.92 ฿193

6.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$97.4 R$493

$299 ฿9,775

-67.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,133 R$15.9K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-79.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 R$167

$54.7 ฿1,788

-39.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.72 R$145

$26.77 ฿875

7.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.0 R$379

$85.0 ฿2,778

-11.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.69 R$211

$70.6 ฿2,308

-40.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$442 R$2,237

$428 ฿14.0K

3.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 R$938

$237 ฿7,759

-21.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$815 R$4,123

$801 ฿26.2K

1.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 R$2,314

$515 ฿16.9K

-11.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,996 R$10.1K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

1.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,420 R$7,186

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-3.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$392 R$1,982

$617 ฿20.2K

-36.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.2

144.00%

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

Last update for Belem: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Belem and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 58% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $29.00 in Belem vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $246, with Belem cheaper for home cooking.

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

Belem vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belem is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chiang Mai earns 58% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Belem versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Belem runs roughly 12% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $97.4 in Belem versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Belem gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Belem is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Belem and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Belem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.