Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sao Bernardo do Campo Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sao Bernardo do Campo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $781 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,252 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,723 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Sao Bernardo do Campo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sao Bernardo do Campo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sao Bernardo do Campo 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$6.38 R$32.48

-69.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.42 R$129

-27.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.18 R$41.63

-8.56%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.39 R$7.09

45.32%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.15 R$5.88

-26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.54 R$2.77

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.41 R$12.25

-11.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.56 R$23.22

-21.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.87 R$4.44

89.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.35 R$6.86

16.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.16 R$5.91

2.59%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.81 R$9.19

7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.60 R$48.87

68.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.29 R$21.83

-30.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.45 R$37.92

46.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.85 R$9.40

46.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.64 R$8.32

-28.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.01 R$5.14

67.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.30 R$6.64

23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.01 R$5.15

36.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.92 R$4.66

30.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.79 R$4.01

-15.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.69 R$3.49

-18.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.21 R$11.27

109.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.73 R$34.28

161.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.14 R$5.80

63.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.47 R$12.56

33.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.98 R$5.01

-10.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$38.92 R$198

-50.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.11 R$5.63

22.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.53 R$2.70

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.49 R$33.02

26.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.06 R$5.38

15.09%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$20.9K R$106.2K

2.39%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$30.0K R$152.7K

-24.88%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$66.3 R$337

6.61%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$22.13 R$113

-36.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$17.20 R$87.6

1.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$22.23 R$113

89.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$29.74 R$151

-76.87%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.32 R$37.28

-19.13%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$304 R$1,547

1.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,813 R$29.6K

155.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$27.82 R$142

100.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$44.18 R$225

-40.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$90.9 R$463

-8.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$67.8 R$345

3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$309 R$1,571

40.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$207 R$1,053

15.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$650 R$3,307

26.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$408 R$2,077

25.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,564 R$7,964

22.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,076 R$5,480

36.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$396 R$2,016

46.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.92

-54.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sao Bernardo do Campo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $309 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. 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 46% 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 $25.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $177 in Sao Bernardo do Campo – so Sao Bernardo do Campo 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 Sao Bernardo do Campo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Sao Bernardo do Campo, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,172 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $304 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $781 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sao Bernardo do Campo costs $781 versus $861 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 Sao Bernardo do Campo. 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.