Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jaragua do Sul Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jaragua do Sul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $894 in Jaragua do Sul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,392 in Jaragua do Sul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,890 in Jaragua do Sul, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Jaragua do Sul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jaragua do Sul are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Jaragua do Sul 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$6.72 R$34.22

-69.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$35.27 R$180

-44.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$7.84 R$39.93

-27.93%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$1.78 R$9.08

1.69%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$1.13 R$5.77

-37.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.52 R$2.63

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$2.65 R$13.47

-15.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$2.84 R$14.46

27.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$0.87 R$4.41

125.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$1.30 R$6.64

15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$0.79 R$4.00

69.62%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.10 R$10.72

7.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$8.50 R$43.30

91.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$3.67 R$18.69

-19.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$7.91 R$40.31

25.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$2.01 R$10.21

27.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$0.76 R$3.85

39.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$0.77 R$3.91

109.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$1.54 R$7.86

-1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$1.17 R$5.95

8.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$1.03 R$5.24

3.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$0.75 R$3.80

-4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.66 R$3.34

-22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$2.28 R$11.62

83.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$6.76 R$34.44

164.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$1.95 R$9.92

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$1.72 R$8.76

65.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$1.08 R$5.51

-13.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

$28.91 R$147

86.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$1.41 R$7.17

-12.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$1.32 R$6.71

-56.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$1.18 R$6.03

19.49%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$23.5K R$119.5K

-8.63%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$34.3K R$174.9K

-20.39%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$112 R$569

-43.01%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$14.00 R$71.3

-8.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$23.98 R$122

-15.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$23.91 R$122

62.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$23.47 R$120

-83.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$6.68 R$34.02

0.90%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$319 R$1,623

144.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$2,634 R$13.4K

454.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$47.79 R$243

13.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$71.4 R$364

-64.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$91.5 R$466

3.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$69.4 R$353

5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$333 R$1,694

47.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$239 R$1,219

20.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$560 R$2,851

59.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$490 R$2,497

5.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$1,015 R$5,170

92.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$806 R$4,106

83.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$604 R$3,075

-0.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.33

-50.84%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jaragua do Sul: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $333 in Jaragua do Sul. 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 0% higher in Jaragua do Sul, 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 $35.00 in Jaragua do Sul. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $169 in Jaragua do Sul – so Jaragua do Sul 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 Jaragua do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Jaragua do Sul, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,342 in Jaragua do Sul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $319 in Jaragua do Sul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jaragua do Sul, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Jaragua do Sul 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. Jaragua do Sul costs $894 versus $947 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 Jaragua do Sul. 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.