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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $768 in Ibitinga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,244 in Ibitinga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,719 in Ibitinga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Ibitinga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ibitinga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Ibitinga 43% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 āļŋ62.8
$5.54 R$27.55
-64.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43 āļŋ594
$26.94 R$134
-31.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 āļŋ241
$6.12 R$30.40
22.55%
Cappuccino
$1.93 āļŋ62.3
$1.80 R$8.93
7.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 āļŋ25.08
$1.08 R$5.35
-27.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 āļŋ10.42
$0.65 R$3.24
-50.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 āļŋ69.2
$1.76 R$8.73
22.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 āļŋ120
$2.65 R$13.15
40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 āļŋ55.2
$1.01 R$5.03
69.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 āļŋ50.3
$1.50 R$7.47
4.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 āļŋ38.06
$1.15 R$5.70
2.61%
Eggs
$1.98 āļŋ63.9
$1.98 R$9.82
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.04 āļŋ517
$8.03 R$39.91
99.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 āļŋ102
$3.54 R$17.58
-10.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 āļŋ353
$7.45 R$37.05
46.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 āļŋ84.7
$2.13 R$10.57
23.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 āļŋ37.61
$1.31 R$6.53
-10.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 āļŋ53.0
$1.15 R$5.72
43.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 āļŋ49.51
$1.50 R$7.48
2.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 āļŋ44.34
$1.15 R$5.71
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 āļŋ37.54
$1.06 R$5.27
10.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 āļŋ21.25
$0.69 R$3.42
-4.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 āļŋ16.55
$0.65 R$3.24
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 āļŋ146
$2.09 R$10.39
116.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 āļŋ590
$8.20 R$40.74
123.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 āļŋ57.9
$1.21 R$6.02
48.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 āļŋ102
$1.99 R$9.89
59.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 āļŋ28.97
$0.88 R$4.37
2.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 āļŋ612
$38.92 R$193
-51.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 āļŋ45.50
$1.07 R$5.31
31.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 āļŋ42.15
$0.71 R$3.52
84.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 āļŋ261
$6.36 R$31.59
27.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 āļŋ41.08
$1.09 R$5.41
17.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K āļŋ686.1K
$20.6K R$102.2K
3.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K āļŋ699.3K
$27.3K R$135.8K
-20.55%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 āļŋ2,230
$61.0 R$303
13.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 āļŋ450
$13.70 R$68.1
1.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95 āļŋ578
$19.09 R$94.9
-5.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 āļŋ1,363
$22.84 R$114
85.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 āļŋ214
$21.81 R$108
-69.46%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 āļŋ191
$6.23 R$30.96
-4.98%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 āļŋ9,640
$274 R$1,360
9.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K āļŋ478.4K
$6,401 R$31.8K
131.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 āļŋ1,810
$48.07 R$239
16.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 āļŋ868
$42.43 R$211
-36.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 āļŋ2,735
$75.1 R$373
12.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 āļŋ2,314
$64.0 R$318
12.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 āļŋ14.0K
$317 R$1,576
37.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 āļŋ7,727
$218 R$1,086
9.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 āļŋ25.7K
$585 R$2,908
36.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 āļŋ16.1K
$434 R$2,156
14.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 āļŋ64.3K
$1,686 R$8,380
18.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 āļŋ49.4K
$1,207 R$5,997
26.94%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 āļŋ20.2K
$425 R$2,112
47.85%
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ibitinga: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $317 in Ibitinga. 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 48% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $27 in Ibitinga. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Ibitinga – so Ibitinga 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 Ibitinga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Ibitinga?
Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Ibitinga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Ibitinga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,152 in Ibitinga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Ibitinga?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ibitinga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Ibitinga?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $274 in Ibitinga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Ibitinga?
Groceries cost about 39% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Ibitinga?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $768 in Ibitinga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Ibitinga?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ibitinga costs $768 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Ibitinga?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Ibitinga?
If budget matters most, go with Ibitinga. 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.

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