Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Maceio - Alagoas Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Maceio - Alagoas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $805 in Maceio - Alagoas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,229 in Maceio - Alagoas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,653 in Maceio - Alagoas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Maceio - Alagoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Maceio - Alagoas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Maceio - Alagoas 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿63.6
$5.00 R$25.45
-60.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39 ฿598
$21.80 R$111
-15.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 ฿256
$5.42 R$27.59
45.20%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.4
$1.86 R$9.44
4.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.57
$1.00 R$5.11
-15.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.52
$0.46 R$2.34
-30.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿69.6
$1.47 R$7.50
45.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿120
$2.55 R$12.97
44.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿53.9
$1.02 R$5.21
62.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ฿50.7
$1.26 R$6.43
23.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.63
$0.92 R$4.68
29.35%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.7
$2.18 R$11.08
-8.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 ฿528
$6.83 R$34.73
137.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿103
$3.41 R$17.33
-7.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.84 ฿352
$7.02 R$35.69
54.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿86.2
$2.44 R$12.42
8.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.67
$1.09 R$5.53
11.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.7
$1.22 R$6.22
35.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.3
$1.29 R$6.57
20.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 ฿43.17
$1.36 R$6.92
-2.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.43
$1.12 R$5.70
8.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿22.04
$0.57 R$2.92
19.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.38
$0.61 R$3.08
-6.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 ฿152
$1.82 R$9.25
157.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 ฿552
$6.98 R$35.52
143.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿59.3
$1.38 R$7.03
31.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿103
$1.30 R$6.61
144.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ฿29.46
$0.74 R$3.76
22.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.74 ฿609
$38.79 R$197
-51.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.80
$0.37 R$1.89
281.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.52
$0.36 R$1.81
272.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ฿265
$6.23 R$31.71
30.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿41.53
$1.08 R$5.50
18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ฿709.3K
$25.2K R$128.3K
-13.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ฿728.0K
$29.8K R$151.4K
-24.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,291
$73.3 R$373
-3.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05 ฿457
$17.42 R$88.6
-19.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65 ฿574
$15.43 R$78.5
14.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.29 ฿1,342
$22.10 R$112
86.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76 ฿220
$21.44 R$109
-68.47%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96 ฿194
$5.43 R$27.62
9.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 ฿9,846
$231 R$1,177
30.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿486.2K
$4,927 R$25.1K
203.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,778
$50.0 R$254
9.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29 ฿854
$68.6 R$349
-61.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,788
$91.6 R$466
-6.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,265
$72.6 R$369
-4.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿13.9K
$252 R$1,283
69.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,769
$257 R$1,306
-6.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿26.4K
$541 R$2,751
49.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 ฿16.6K
$413 R$2,099
23.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,025 ฿65.8K
$1,484 R$7,551
36.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,502 ฿48.8K
$702 R$3,569
114.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 ฿20.2K
$591 R$3,007
5.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
9.5
-47.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $252 in Maceio - Alagoas. 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 5% 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 Maceio - Alagoas. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $163 in Maceio - Alagoas – so Maceio - Alagoas 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 Maceio - Alagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Maceio - Alagoas?
Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Maceio - Alagoas, 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,207 in Maceio - Alagoas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Maceio - Alagoas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maceio - Alagoas, 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $231 in Maceio - Alagoas. 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
Groceries cost about 48% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Maceio - Alagoas?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $805 in Maceio - Alagoas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Maceio - Alagoas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maceio - Alagoas costs $805 versus $848 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
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 Maceio - Alagoas?
If budget matters most, go with Maceio - Alagoas. 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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