😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $743 in Cascavel, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,115 in Cascavel, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,488 in Cascavel, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Cascavel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Cascavel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Cascavel44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.9
$10.83R$55.3
-81.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$21.82R$112
-15.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$6.13R$31.33
22.02%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$1.21R$6.18
66.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.52
$1.21R$6.19
-29.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.97
$0.46R$2.33
-21.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.9
$1.06R$5.39
101.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$2.03R$10.40
76.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.93R$4.75
77.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$1.21R$6.17
29.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.05
$1.56R$7.95
-23.72%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$2.01R$10.27
-3.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿545
$9.65R$49.33
67.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$3.20R$16.36
-6.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$6.14R$31.38
78.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$2.19R$11.21
23.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.27
$0.79R$4.06
48.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.8
$0.57R$2.89
196.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$1.47R$7.50
8.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.56
$1.16R$5.93
18.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.47
$1.07R$5.46
12.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.51
$0.69R$3.54
-2.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.74
$0.69R$3.53
-18.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$1.72R$8.80
169.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$12.88R$65.8
36.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.6
$1.68R$8.57
10.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$2.18R$11.13
51.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.70
$0.87R$4.42
1.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿651
$38.67R$198
-49.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.92
$1.07R$5.45
27.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿45.00
$0.69R$3.55
94.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$6.56R$33.54
25.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.20
$1.08R$5.54
12.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.5K
$21.4KR$109.2K
-0.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿758.1K
$29.4KR$150.1K
-23.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,378
$52.2R$267
35.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$9.73R$49.75
44.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿589
$21.45R$110
-18.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,418
$16.61R$84.9
153.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$21.95R$112
-68.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$5.53R$28.26
7.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$195R$999
57.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.7K
$6,378R$32.6K
133.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,876
$18.77R$95.9
197.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿879
$35.85R$183
-27.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,793
$67.2R$343
23.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,371
$64.1R$328
9.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$300R$1,532
44.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,040
$186R$953
28.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$462R$2,361
77.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$280R$1,430
83.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$1,453R$7,425
31.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.4K
$968R$4,945
51.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cascavel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$492R$2,516
17.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
10.92
-54.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Cascavel: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $300 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 18% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Cascavel. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $180 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
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Cascavel compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai, $743 in Cascavel – roughly 16% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Cascavel?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,114 in Cascavel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Cascavel?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chiang Mai and Cascavel?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $195 in Cascavel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 36% 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.
How far does $1,200 go in Chiang Mai compared to Cascavel?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $743 in Cascavel, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Cascavel?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $743 in Cascavel to $861 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Cascavel safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Cascavel?
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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared