Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Barueri

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,057 in Barueri, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Barueri, Brazil
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Barueri
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,057
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,057 in Barueri, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Barueri $1,057

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,702 in Barueri, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Barueri $1,702

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,347 in Barueri, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Barueri $2,347

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Barueri, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Barueri are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Barueri 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.7
$7.65 R$40.91
-70.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿642
$41.22 R$220
-53.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿188
$8.50 R$45.44
-34.71%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.6
$2.31 R$12.33
-27.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.56
$1.41 R$7.54
-54.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$0.98 R$5.25
-68.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$2.64 R$14.12
-10.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$3.99 R$21.33
-8.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.15 R$6.14
69.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$1.94 R$10.38
-25.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.07
$1.24 R$6.65
7.26%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$2.61 R$13.96
-12.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿556
$11.50 R$61.5
43.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$5.06 R$27.04
-45.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$10.01 R$53.5
-6.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.5
$2.66 R$14.25
-11.65%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.82
$1.74 R$9.29
-44.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.51 R$8.06
5.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$1.83 R$9.79
-18.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.15
$1.33 R$7.11
-3.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.22
$1.18 R$6.28
-6.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.84
$0.95 R$5.09
-25.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.38
$0.87 R$4.63
-43.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.57 R$13.72
61.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿592
$8.27 R$44.24
111.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.56 R$8.32
3.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.41 R$12.90
15.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.33
$1.11 R$5.95
-21.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,827
$52.0 R$278
4.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.08
$1.63 R$8.72
-28.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.82
$0.90 R$4.81
-41.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$9.77 R$52.3
-75.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.22 R$6.52
18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿711.2K
$22.0K R$117.9K
-4.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.8K
$31.7K R$169.7K
-15.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,100
$68.5 R$366
-9.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$13.23 R$70.7
-8.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿680
$20.63 R$110
-2.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,260
$29.22 R$156
27.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$18.32 R$98.0
-79.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$8.79 R$46.99
-26.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.9K
$405 R$2,164
81.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.6K
$7,075 R$37.8K
108.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,802
$51.3 R$274
4.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿832
$55.5 R$297
-55.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,089
$89.8 R$480
1.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,429
$80.4 R$430
-10.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$474 R$2,536
1.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$351 R$1,876
-11.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿34.0K
$963 R$5,147
4.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$703 R$3,760
-9.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$1,531 R$8,187
54.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.7K
$1,495 R$7,993
6.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Barueri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$573 R$3,064
2.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.68
-52.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Barueri: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Barueri
$351 13.6% $42
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Barueri
$225 4.1% $9.6
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Barueri
$125 14.7% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Barueri
$102 8.4% $7.9
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Barueri
$145 87% $68
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Barueri
$63 1.9% $1.2
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Barueri
$47 6.9% $3.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $474 in Barueri. 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 3% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $41 in Barueri. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $225 in Barueri – so Barueri wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇧🇷 Barueri
🕒 Local time
06:14 6:14 AM
20:14 8:14 PM
10 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
316,473
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Barueri 16,440 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Barueri

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
Chiang Mai vs Barueri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Barueri?
Yes – Barueri is pricier by about 13%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,586 in Barueri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Barueri?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $474 in Barueri. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Barueri?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,057 in Barueri. That makes Chiang Mai about 11% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 4% less in Barueri. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Chiang Mai or in Barueri?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,057 in Barueri. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Chiang Mai or in Barueri?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,057 in Barueri. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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