Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Braganca and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,014 in Braganca, rent and utilities included – about $940 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Braganca, Portugal
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Braganca
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,014
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Braganca and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Braganca and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Braganca versus $936 in Chiang Mai.

  • Braganca $1,014
  • Chiang Mai $936

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,532 in Braganca versus $1,457 in Chiang Mai.

  • Braganca $1,532
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,049 in Braganca versus $1,979 in Chiang Mai.

  • Braganca $2,049
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Living in Braganca is roughly 8% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Braganca 25% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.30 €10.12
$2.24 ฿75.6
404.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.85 €35.69
$19.00 ฿641
109.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.21 €8.24
$5.55 ฿187
65.95%
Cappuccino
$1.43 €1.28
$1.67 ฿56.5
-14.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.24
$0.64 ฿21.54
115.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 €0.93
$0.31 ฿10.31
232.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 €0.98
$2.36 ฿79.5
-53.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$3.66 ฿124
-37.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 €0.95
$1.95 ฿65.7
-45.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.54
$1.44 ฿48.46
19.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.35
$1.33 ฿45.03
13.53%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.88
$2.28 ฿77.1
41.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 €8.40
$16.45 ฿555
-42.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 €5.72
$2.78 ฿93.9
129.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.09 €10.83
$9.31 ฿314
29.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 €2.12
$2.35 ฿79.4
0.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 €1.22
$0.97 ฿32.79
40.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$1.60 ฿53.9
13.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 €2.38
$1.50 ฿50.6
77.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 €1.77
$1.28 ฿43.11
54.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 €1.74
$1.10 ฿37.18
77.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.21
$0.71 ฿23.82
90.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.81
$0.49 ฿16.36
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 €5.17
$4.14 ฿140
39.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.42 €3.96
$17.52 ฿591
-74.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.61 ฿54.5
-27.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.41
$2.78 ฿93.9
-43.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.87 ฿29.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 €10.14
$54.1 ฿1,825
-79.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 €3.50
$1.16 ฿39.04
237.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 €1.01
$0.53 ฿17.80
113.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.23 €14.53
$2.42 ฿81.7
570.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 €1.94
$1.45 ฿48.88
49.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.2K
$21.1K ฿710.5K
60.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5K €33.6K
$26.9K ฿909.0K
39.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 €93.0
$62.2 ฿2,098
66.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.79 €15.04
$12.17 ฿411
37.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.87 €31.23
$20.12 ฿679
73.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.95 €30.40
$37.31 ฿1,259
-9.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.65 €5.06
$3.77 ฿127
49.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50 €4.92
$6.49 ฿219
-15.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 €275
$736 ฿24.8K
-58.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,170 €8,213
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-37.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.69 €20.32
$53.4 ฿1,801
-57.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.62 €20.26
$24.64 ฿831
-8.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.5 €60.4
$91.5 ฿3,087
-26.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.7 €88.4
$71.9 ฿2,427
37.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$400 €358
$482 ฿16.3K
-17.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$315 €282
$309 ฿10.4K
2.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 €658
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-26.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 €424
$633 ฿21.4K
-25.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,064 €953
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-54.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$853 €764
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-46.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Braganca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,160 €1,039
$590 ฿19.9K
96.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.47
5.57
-37.70%

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

Last update for Braganca: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Braganca
$315
Chiang Mai
$309 2% $6.4
Groceries & Markets
Braganca
$228
Chiang Mai
$234 3% $6.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Braganca
$155
Chiang Mai
$94 39.2% $61
Eating Out
Braganca
$155
Chiang Mai
$78 49.9% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Braganca
$95
Chiang Mai
$109 14.2% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Braganca
$45
Chiang Mai
$50 11.9% $5.3
Getting Around
Braganca
$21 *
Chiang Mai
$61 194% $40

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Braganca and $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Braganca pays 97% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $40 in Braganca vs $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $234, with Braganca cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Braganca
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
23:19 11:19 PM
06:19 6:19 AM
7 h ahead of Braganca
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
34,589
127,240
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Braganca Chiang Mai 9,860 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Braganca
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Braganca vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Braganca and in Chiang Mai?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,014 in Braganca and $936 in Chiang Mai, so Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Braganca or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 97% higher in Braganca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Braganca and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $400 in Braganca versus $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Braganca and in Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Braganca runs roughly 79% less than in Chiang Mai. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Braganca and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $307 in Braganca versus $736 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Chiang Mai is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Braganca and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Braganca or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Braganca and Chiang Mai are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Braganca and Chiang Mai?
It comes down to priorities – Chiang Mai wins on affordability, Braganca on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Braganca vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?