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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $878 in Osasco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,313 in Osasco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,748 in Osasco, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Osasco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Osasco are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Osasco 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$6.32 R$31.65
-69.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$33.34 R$167
-44.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$7.12 R$35.64
9.83%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$1.89 R$9.48
3.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$1.23 R$6.17
-30.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$0.85 R$4.27
-58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$1.85 R$9.28
15.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$3.10 R$15.54
20.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.02 R$5.11
67.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$1.56 R$7.82
4.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$1.34 R$6.72
-14.93%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$2.47 R$12.38
-21.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$8.50 R$42.55
90.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.73 R$18.69
-16.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$8.78 R$43.94
24.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$2.19 R$10.95
25.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$1.76 R$8.79
-31.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$1.40 R$7.00
15.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.58 R$7.92
0.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$1.25 R$6.27
12.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$1.30 R$6.50
-10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$0.86 R$4.30
-23.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.74 R$3.73
-28.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$2.54 R$12.72
84.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$9.74 R$48.73
91.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.35 R$6.74
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.97 R$14.85
8.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$0.94 R$4.72
-4.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$48.28 R$242
-60.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$0.96 R$4.81
46.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$0.70 R$3.51
84.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$9.12 R$45.65
-14.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$1.00 R$5.02
27.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$21.8K R$109.3K
-2.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$28.4K R$142.2K
-21.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$53.6 R$268
28.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$13.01 R$65.1
8.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$18.39 R$92.0
-2.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$21.97 R$110
86.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$21.56 R$108
-67.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$8.35 R$41.78
-29.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$320 R$1,602
-6.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$6,857 R$34.3K
118.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$50.6 R$253
8.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$42.21 R$211
-36.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$86.7 R$434
-1.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$72.3 R$362
-2.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$345 R$1,727
24.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$249 R$1,249
-4.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$556 R$2,783
44.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$348 R$1,742
48.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$1,762 R$8,819
12.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$1,559 R$7,802
-5.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Osasco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$452 R$2,261
36.69%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Osasco: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $345 in Osasco. 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 37% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Osasco. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $197 in Osasco – so Osasco 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 Osasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Osasco?
Osasco costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, 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 Osasco?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,317 in Osasco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Osasco?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 Osasco?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $320 in Osasco. 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 Osasco?
Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Osasco – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Osasco?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $878 in Osasco, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Osasco?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $878 in Osasco. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Osasco?
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 Osasco?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Osasco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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