Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilheus and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Ilheus: $786 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ilheus, Brazil
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ilheus
🇧🇷 Brazil
$786
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ilheus and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ilheus and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $786 per month in Ilheus vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ilheus $786
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,283 per month in Ilheus vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ilheus $1,283
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,779 per month in Ilheus vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ilheus $1,779
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Ilheus is about 16% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ilheus and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ilheus 42% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 R$20.90
$2.24 ฿75.7
74.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.88 R$160
$19.00 ฿642
57.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.47 R$39.93
$5.55 ฿188
34.59%
Cappuccino
$1.86 R$9.92
$1.67 ฿56.6
11.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 R$6.19
$0.64 ฿21.56
81.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 R$4.47
$0.31 ฿10.32
170.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 R$9.25
$2.36 ฿79.6
-26.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 R$16.88
$3.66 ฿124
-13.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 R$5.61
$1.95 ฿65.8
-46.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 R$8.61
$1.44 ฿48.51
11.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.52
$1.33 ฿45.07
-8.27%
Eggs
$2.00 R$10.71
$2.28 ฿77.1
-12.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.98 R$96.1
$16.45 ฿556
9.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.92 R$20.98
$2.78 ฿94.0
41.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.37 R$39.41
$9.31 ฿314
-20.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 R$11.24
$2.35 ฿79.5
-10.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 R$6.31
$0.97 ฿32.82
21.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 R$6.09
$1.60 ฿53.9
-28.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 R$8.00
$1.50 ฿50.7
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 R$6.32
$1.28 ฿43.15
-7.81%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 R$5.32
$1.10 ฿37.22
-10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 R$4.10
$0.71 ฿23.84
8.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 R$3.45
$0.49 ฿16.38
32.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 R$12.28
$4.14 ฿140
-44.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.96 R$37.19
$17.52 ฿592
-60.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 R$5.89
$1.61 ฿54.5
-31.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 R$10.51
$2.78 ฿94.0
-29.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 R$5.06
$0.87 ฿29.33
9.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.11 R$220
$54.1 ฿1,827
-24.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 R$5.79
$1.16 ฿39.08
-6.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 R$5.01
$0.53 ฿17.82
77.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.78 R$36.23
$2.42 ฿81.8
180.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 R$6.06
$1.45 ฿48.93
-22.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K R$111.2K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
-1.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K R$174.7K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
21.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.8 R$379
$62.2 ฿2,100
13.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 R$62.6
$12.17 ฿411
-3.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.59 R$105
$20.12 ฿680
-2.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.68 R$132
$37.31 ฿1,260
-33.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.71 R$127
$3.77 ฿127
528.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 R$34.73
$6.49 ฿219
0.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 R$1,460
$736 ฿24.9K
-62.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,926 R$37.0K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-53.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 R$274
$53.4 ฿1,802
-4.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88 R$219
$24.64 ฿832
65.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 R$464
$91.5 ฿3,089
-5.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.4 R$344
$71.9 ฿2,429
-10.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$209 R$1,118
$482 ฿16.3K
-56.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 R$980
$309 ฿10.4K
-40.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$530 R$2,834
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-47.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$407 R$2,178
$633 ฿21.4K
-35.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,468 R$7,851
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-37.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,234 R$6,600
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-22.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$564 R$3,018
$590 ฿19.9K
-4.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
5.57
97.49%

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

Last update for Ilheus: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
$204
Chiang Mai
$234 14.6% $30
Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
$183
Chiang Mai
$309 68.6% $126
Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
$109
Chiang Mai
$109 0.7% $0.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
$102
Chiang Mai
$94 7.5% $7.6
Eating Out
Ilheus
$99
Chiang Mai
$78 21.5% $21
Getting Around
Ilheus
$51
Chiang Mai
$61 21.1% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
$38
Chiang Mai
$50 33.5% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $209 in Ilheus versus $482 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 4% 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 $30 in Ilheus versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Ilheus vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Ilheus wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Ilheus
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
11:04 11:04 AM
21:04 9:04 PM
10 h ahead of Ilheus
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
178,649
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ilheus Chiang Mai 15,540 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ilheus
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 19% more than Ilheus, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 $1,180 per month in Ilheus and $1,403 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $209 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Ilheus and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $273 per month in Ilheus and $736 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 15% 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 $1,200/month in Ilheus or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $786 in Ilheus and $936 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Ilheus – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
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.

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