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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $688 in Cascavel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,033 in Cascavel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,377 in Cascavel, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Cascavel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Cascavel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Cascavel 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$8.90 R$45.84

-76.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$23.05 R$119

-14.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.62 R$34.13

-14.35%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.54 R$7.93

17.53%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.07 R$5.53

-28.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.56 R$2.87

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.15 R$5.92

92.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.20 R$11.35

72.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.00 R$5.17

105.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.30 R$6.71

16.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.65 R$8.52

-15.15%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.11 R$10.89

7.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$10.23 R$52.7

58.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.42 R$17.61

-15.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.65 R$34.25

41.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.29 R$11.79

17.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.89 R$4.60

22.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.61 R$3.12

165.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.15 R$5.91

-7.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.70 R$3.59

-24.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.86 R$9.58

127.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$13.37 R$68.9

36.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.79 R$9.21

-8.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.38 R$12.28

21.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.88 R$4.52

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

$1.19 R$6.15

21.85%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$26.4K R$136.0K

-20.40%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$32.5K R$167.5K

-18.71%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$56.0 R$289

13.66%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$10.48 R$54.0

23.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$22.76 R$117

-9.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$18.32 R$94.4

112.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.94 R$30.63

10.77%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$214 R$1,104

265.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$20.14 R$104

173.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$39.18 R$202

-36.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$70.9 R$365

32.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$321 R$1,652

52.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$202 R$1,039

42.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$511 R$2,631

74.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$303 R$1,560

72.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,470 R$7,574

34.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$984 R$5,072

46.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$480 R$2,473

25.35%

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 Cascavel: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $321 in Cascavel. 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 25% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Cascavel. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Cascavel – so Cascavel 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai, $688 in Cascavel – roughly 35% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,032 in Cascavel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $23.00 in Cascavel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cascavel, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Cascavel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $688 in Cascavel to $932 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cascavel. 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.