😐A single person spends $1,645 per month in Guimaraes vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,325 per month in Guimaraes vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,005 per month in Guimaraes vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Guimaraes costs about 93% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Guimaraes sits 24% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37€8.98
$2.04฿68.2
408.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.62€39.50
$18.71฿624
143.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.47€8.20
$7.86฿262
20.48%
Cappuccino
$1.98€1.71
$2.03฿67.7
-2.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86€1.61
$0.80฿26.64
132.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$0.35฿11.68
222.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66€2.31
$2.14฿71.5
24.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€2.99
$3.67฿122
-5.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.94
$1.73฿57.6
-36.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.40
$1.57฿52.4
2.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78€1.54
$1.20฿39.99
48.33%
Eggs
$3.07€2.66
$1.97฿65.8
55.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.12€9.63
$16.23฿541
-31.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.16€7.06
$3.06฿102
166.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.90€12.04
$10.80฿360
28.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$2.77฿92.3
-25.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42€1.23
$1.17฿38.94
21.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88€1.63
$1.71฿57.0
9.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.90€2.51
$1.59฿53.2
82.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32€1.14
$1.39฿46.51
-5.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.64
$1.16฿38.56
62.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72€1.49
$0.66฿22.05
160.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$0.52฿17.31
80.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91€5.12
$4.65฿155
27.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.44€3.85
$17.78฿593
-75.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.12
$1.79฿59.6
-27.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$3.34฿111
-29.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74€2.37
$0.91฿30.27
201.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.27€28.81
$18.64฿622
78.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16€3.60
$1.41฿47.04
195.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20€1.04
$1.34฿44.70
-10.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.29€12.38
$8.11฿270
76.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94€1.68
$1.23฿41.16
57.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K€32.0K
$21.4K฿715.1K
72.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€34.4K
$21.8K฿728.0K
81.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134€116
$71.3฿2,379
87.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.55€18.66
$14.01฿467
53.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.62€38.64
$17.93฿598
148.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.80€39.66
$40.82฿1,362
12.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.33€7.21
$5.72฿191
45.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354€307
$308฿10.3K
14.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,394€7,269
$14.7K฿489.7K
-42.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7€61.2
$55.8฿1,860
26.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00€32.91
$26.04฿869
45.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.8€78.6
$84.8฿2,829
7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100€87.0
$71.0฿2,368
41.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$913€791
$423฿14.1K
115.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$785€680
$242฿8,088
223.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,450€1,256
$797฿26.6K
81.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,121€971
$507฿16.9K
121.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,792€2,418
$1,918฿64.0K
45.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,314€2,004
$1,464฿48.8K
58.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guimaraes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,413€1,224
$595฿19.9K
137.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
5
8.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guimaraes: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $913 in Guimaraes versus $423 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 137% higher in Guimaraes, 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 $46.00 in Guimaraes versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Guimaraes vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guimaraes or Chiang Mai?
Guimaraes costs about 93% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Guimaraes and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,467 per month in Guimaraes and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Guimaraes or Chiang Mai?
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 Guimaraes and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Guimaraes and $308 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 Guimaraes or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Guimaraes, 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 Guimaraes or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Guimaraes at $1,645. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guimaraes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guimaraes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,645 in Guimaraes. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Guimaraes 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 Guimaraes or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guimaraes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.