Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Vila Velha Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Vila Velha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $963 in Vila Velha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,579 in Vila Velha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,196 in Vila Velha, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Vila Velha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Vila Velha are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Vila Velha 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$9.03 R$46.45

-76.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$38.31 R$197

-48.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.87 R$40.46

-27.95%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.28 R$11.71

-20.61%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.34 R$6.88

-42.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.56 R$2.87

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.91 R$9.83

15.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.98 R$15.30

27.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.05 R$5.38

95.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.53 R$7.89

-1.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.93 R$9.94

-27.46%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.35 R$12.06

-3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$9.09 R$46.76

78.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$4.57 R$23.51

-36.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.22 R$47.39

2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.94 R$9.95

38.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$0.98 R$5.03

11.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.18 R$6.09

37.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.26 R$6.46

15.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.22 R$6.26

4.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.33 R$6.86

-20.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.45 R$2.30

60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.80 R$4.13

-33.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.27 R$16.83

29.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$8.67 R$44.60

110.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.76 R$9.03

-7.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.31 R$11.90

25.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$1.00 R$5.16

-12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$50.1 R$258

7.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.40 R$7.19

-16.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.85 R$4.39

-31.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$12.82 R$65.9

-81.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.18 R$6.06

22.88%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$32.5K R$167.0K

-35.32%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$31.9K R$164.0K

-17.16%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$113 R$583

-43.88%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$17.35 R$89.2

-25.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$15.15 R$77.9

35.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$27.08 R$139

44.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$26.84 R$138

-85.39%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.99 R$35.96

-5.87%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$427 R$2,194

83.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$14.2K R$73.3K

2.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$76.7 R$394

-28.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$50.4 R$259

-50.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$81.8 R$421

15.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$74.2 R$381

-0.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$293 R$1,509

67.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$246 R$1,267

16.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$573 R$2,944

55.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$554 R$2,850

-5.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,000 R$10.3K

-1.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$2,010 R$10.3K

-28.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$401 R$2,064

49.85%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Vila Velha: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $293 in Vila Velha. 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 50% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Vila Velha. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Vila Velha – so Vila Velha 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 Vila Velha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vila Velha costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,444 in Vila Velha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $427 in Vila Velha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Vila Velha – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Vila Velha at $963. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vila Velha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $963 in Vila Velha. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vila Velha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.