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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $782 in Ibitinga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,237 in Ibitinga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,693 in Ibitinga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Ibitinga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ibitinga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ibitinga 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$5.24 R$26.53
-62.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$26.53 R$134
-29.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$6.32 R$31.98
22.63%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$1.81 R$9.15
6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$1.12 R$5.68
-29.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$0.62 R$3.14
-41.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$1.81 R$9.18
22.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.66 R$13.46
37.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$0.96 R$4.84
71.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$1.52 R$7.70
7.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$1.14 R$5.76
4.39%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$1.97 R$9.99
1.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$8.33 R$42.16
91.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$3.74 R$18.95
-18.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
$7.44 R$37.67
45.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$2.15 R$10.90
28.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$1.26 R$6.37
-6.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.20 R$6.08
36.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$1.49 R$7.55
2.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$1.14 R$5.75
21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$1.09 R$5.53
9.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$0.69 R$3.48
1.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.66 R$3.34
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$2.17 R$11.00
111.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$7.62 R$38.60
117.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.22 R$6.16
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$2.05 R$10.37
56.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$0.89 R$4.50
-1.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
$39.15 R$198
-52.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$1.11 R$5.61
22.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.76 R$3.82
76.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$6.27 R$31.76
25.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$1.07 R$5.44
14.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$21.0K R$106.4K
2.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$27.2K R$137.8K
-17.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$59.6 R$302
18.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$13.30 R$67.3
2.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$19.04 R$96.4
-8.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$22.45 R$114
84.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$21.70 R$110
-67.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$6.16 R$31.16
-6.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$273 R$1,380
12.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$6,553 R$33.2K
122.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$48.66 R$246
14.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$42.00 R$213
-37.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$74.6 R$378
14.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$64.2 R$325
12.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$317 R$1,605
35.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$214 R$1,085
11.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$587 R$2,971
39.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$424 R$2,149
20.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$1,519 R$7,691
30.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$1,054 R$5,336
40.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ibitinga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
$399 R$2,020
55.08%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ibitinga: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 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 55% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Ibitinga. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $176 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 11% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,172 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $273 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 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Ibitinga?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $782 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 $782 versus $869 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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