🙂A single person spends $801 per month in Duque de Caxias vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,288 per month in Duque de Caxias vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,774 per month in Duque de Caxias vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Duque de Caxias is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Duque de Caxias and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Duque de Caxias40% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.19R$31.89
$1.94฿63.8
219.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.77R$158
$18.64฿611
65.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.51R$33.54
$7.82฿256
-16.75%
Cappuccino
$1.80R$9.30
$1.95฿64.1
-7.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33R$6.87
$0.85฿27.90
56.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85R$4.37
$0.35฿11.64
142.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83R$9.44
$2.13฿69.9
-14.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32R$11.97
$3.73฿122
-37.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.57
$1.71฿56.2
-36.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45R$7.47
$1.63฿53.4
-11.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31R$6.76
$1.14฿37.32
14.91%
Eggs
$1.80R$9.27
$1.93฿63.4
-6.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16R$42.03
$16.21฿532
-49.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.67R$18.93
$3.12฿102
17.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.48R$38.51
$10.90฿357
-31.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26R$11.66
$2.75฿90.4
-17.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48R$7.61
$1.21฿39.70
22.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41R$7.28
$1.62฿53.2
-12.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54R$7.94
$1.59฿52.1
-3.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29R$6.65
$1.40฿45.91
-7.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02R$5.26
$1.17฿38.34
-12.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59R$3.03
$0.66฿21.70
-10.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.33
$0.53฿17.30
22.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78R$14.30
$4.69฿154
-40.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.08R$46.76
$18.66฿612
-51.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20R$6.20
$1.80฿59.0
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68R$13.83
$3.23฿106
-17.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.77
$0.90฿29.39
3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.29R$197
$19.21฿630
99.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87R$4.47
$1.41฿46.13
-38.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.57
$1.29฿42.31
-46.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44R$38.33
$7.84฿257
-5.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06R$5.46
$1.27฿41.77
-16.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.4KR$68.9K
$21.3K฿698.1K
-37.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4KR$89.8K
$22.2K฿728.8K
-21.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.26R$243
$69.1฿2,266
-31.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.24R$78.5
$14.08฿462
8.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.74R$96.6
$18.00฿591
4.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.36R$115
$41.06฿1,347
-45.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.53R$111
$6.96฿228
209.34%
Cinema Ticket
$5.25R$27.02
$5.92฿194
-11.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320R$1,649
$299฿9,811
7.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,960R$35.9K
$15.0K฿490.6K
-53.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3R$290
$54.7฿1,795
2.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.88R$180
$26.77฿878
30.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7R$436
$85.0฿2,788
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7R$375
$70.6฿2,316
3.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$313R$1,611
$428฿14.0K
-26.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217R$1,115
$237฿7,787
-8.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581R$2,992
$801฿26.3K
-27.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$428R$2,203
$515฿16.9K
-17.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,588R$8,181
$1,975฿64.8K
-19.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,176R$6,059
$1,475฿48.4K
-20.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duque de Caxias
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$297R$1,527
$617฿20.3K
-51.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
5
118.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duque de Caxias: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $313 in Duque de Caxias versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 108% 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 $31.00 in Duque de Caxias versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Duque de Caxias vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Duque de Caxias 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
Duque de Caxias vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Duque de Caxias or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Duque de Caxias, 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 Duque de Caxias vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,201 per month in Duque de Caxias and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Duque de Caxias or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Duque de Caxias, 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 Duque de Caxias and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Duque de Caxias and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Duque de Caxias or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 35% 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 $800/month in Duque de Caxias or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $801 in Duque de Caxias and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Duque de Caxias or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Duque de Caxias costs $801 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Duque de Caxias compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Duque de Caxias or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Duque de Caxias. 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.
Duque de Caxias vs other spots: cost of living compared