🙂A single person spends $842 per month in Ilheus vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,348 per month in Ilheus vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,854 per month in Ilheus vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ilheus is about 11% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ilheus and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ilheus39% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.16R$21.35
$2.10฿69.3
98.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.52R$162
$19.84฿656
58.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.24R$37.12
$5.79฿191
25.04%
Cappuccino
$1.98R$10.13
$1.83฿60.4
8.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.24
$0.78฿25.61
56.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.34
$0.31฿10.37
109.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77R$9.07
$2.34฿77.2
-24.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93R$15.00
$3.70฿122
-20.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04R$5.34
$2.03฿67.1
-48.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63R$8.37
$1.60฿52.7
1.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23R$6.32
$1.42฿46.75
-13.38%
Eggs
$2.19R$11.23
$2.18฿71.9
0.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.74R$96.1
$15.91฿526
17.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.20R$21.55
$3.07฿102
36.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98R$40.90
$9.87฿326
-19.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.14R$10.96
$2.63฿86.8
-18.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26R$6.48
$1.10฿36.19
14.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$6.15
$1.63฿53.8
-26.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63R$8.38
$1.53฿50.6
6.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17R$6.01
$1.24฿41.13
-5.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.64
$1.13฿37.37
-2.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77R$3.97
$0.74฿24.38
4.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82R$4.23
$0.50฿16.48
64.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37R$12.13
$4.28฿141
-44.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.11R$36.44
$17.97฿594
-60.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26R$6.43
$1.70฿56.1
-25.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10R$10.78
$2.90฿95.7
-27.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97R$4.96
$0.94฿31.13
3.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.90R$246
$55.3฿1,827
-13.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21R$6.23
$1.23฿40.76
-1.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88R$4.53
$0.53฿17.66
66.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.93R$35.54
$2.40฿79.3
188.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15R$5.87
$1.44฿47.55
-20.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KR$105.3K
$21.2K฿700.2K
-3.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KR$179.0K
$27.3K฿902.1K
27.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9R$379
$64.9฿2,145
13.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97R$61.4
$13.35฿441
-10.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.48R$105
$20.83฿688
-1.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.85R$138
$40.42฿1,336
-33.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.65R$131
$3.95฿131
549.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.82R$40.08
$6.71฿222
16.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306R$1,566
$787฿26.0K
-61.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,568R$38.8K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-49.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2R$257
$56.2฿1,858
-10.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.20R$252
$24.95฿824
97.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3R$478
$92.7฿3,063
0.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.7R$311
$75.1฿2,482
-19.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$221R$1,134
$484฿16.0K
-54.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$194R$992
$287฿9,491
-32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555R$2,846
$910฿30.1K
-38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$424R$2,174
$531฿17.5K
-20.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,607R$8,240
$1,980฿65.4K
-18.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,050R$5,384
$1,451฿47.9K
-27.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$576R$2,951
$605฿20.0K
-4.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.12
5.57
99.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilheus: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $221 in Ilheus versus $484 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 5% 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 $32.00 in Ilheus versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Ilheus vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Ilheus 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
Ilheus vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ilheus or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Ilheus, 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 Ilheus and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,263 per month in Ilheus and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ilheus or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ilheus, 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 Ilheus and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Ilheus and $787 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 Ilheus or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 12% 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 $2,000/month in Ilheus or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ilheus, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ilheus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ilheus or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ilheus costs $842 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ilheus 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 Ilheus or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ilheus. 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.