Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Boa Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Boa Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $770 in Boa Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $980 in Boa Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,190 in Boa Vista, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Boa Vista, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Boa Vista are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Boa Vista 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.80 R$19.60

-45.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$23.19 R$119

-15.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.96 R$35.84

-18.53%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.99 R$10.25

-9.05%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.09 R$5.61

-29.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.60 R$3.09

-41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.90 R$9.81

16.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.94 R$15.16

28.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$2.52 R$12.96

-18.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.33 R$6.84

13.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.09 R$5.63

28.44%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.09 R$15.93

-26.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$9.72 R$50.1

66.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$6.37 R$32.83

-54.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$12.18 R$62.8

-22.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.68 R$13.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.21 R$6.23

-9.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.69 R$8.70

-4.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$2.56 R$13.20

-42.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.01 R$5.20

26.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.99 R$5.07

7.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.80 R$4.12

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.71 R$3.66

-25.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.79 R$14.39

51.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$17.49 R$90.1

4.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.11 R$10.87

-22.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.38 R$7.14

110.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.94 R$4.85

-6.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.29 R$6.65

12.40%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$27.6K R$142.4K

-4.38%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

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

$12.89 ฿430

$22.10 R$114

-41.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$31.04 R$160

-33.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$31.46 R$162

24.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.83 R$30.02

12.86%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$185 R$954

323.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$24.40 R$126

125.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$17.61 R$90.7

40.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$69.0 R$355

36.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$32.43 R$167

128.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$341 R$1,755

43.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$249 R$1,285

15.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$784 R$4,038

151.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$788 R$4,058

83.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$623 R$3,208

-3.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Boa Vista: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $341 in Boa Vista. 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 4% higher in Boa Vista, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Boa Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $258 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Boa Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Boa Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,155 in Boa Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Boa Vista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $770 in Boa Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $185 in Boa Vista. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boa Vista costs $770 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Boa Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.