🙂A single person spends $679 per month in Ilheus vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,111 per month in Ilheus vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,542 per month in Ilheus vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ilheus is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ilheus and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ilheus49% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.83R$19.71
$1.94฿63.8
97.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.18R$140
$18.64฿611
45.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24R$32.16
$7.82฿256
-20.20%
Cappuccino
$1.80R$9.29
$1.95฿64.1
-7.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09R$5.60
$0.85฿27.90
28.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63R$3.23
$0.35฿11.64
80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.54
$2.13฿69.9
-13.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78R$14.31
$3.73฿122
-25.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95R$4.87
$1.71฿56.2
-44.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45R$7.49
$1.63฿53.4
-11.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.85
$1.14฿37.32
-0.88%
Eggs
$1.97R$10.13
$1.93฿63.4
2.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.04R$87.8
$16.21฿532
5.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54R$18.22
$3.12฿102
13.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.00R$36.07
$10.90฿357
-35.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16R$11.13
$2.75฿90.4
-21.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31R$6.73
$1.21฿39.70
8.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$6.18
$1.62฿53.2
-25.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44R$7.41
$1.59฿52.1
-9.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.85
$1.40฿45.91
-18.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.68
$1.17฿38.34
-5.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73R$3.78
$0.66฿21.70
10.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.41
$0.53฿17.30
24.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14R$11.02
$4.69฿154
-54.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51R$38.70
$18.66฿612
-59.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.27
$1.80฿59.0
-32.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98R$10.20
$3.23฿106
-38.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.76
$0.90฿29.39
2.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.24R$197
$19.21฿630
99.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06R$5.47
$1.41฿46.13
-24.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76R$3.92
$1.29฿42.31
-41.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.41R$33.03
$7.84฿257
-18.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03R$5.32
$1.27฿41.77
-18.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KR$107.3K
$21.3K฿698.1K
-2.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KR$140.3K
$22.2K฿728.8K
22.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.3R$316
$69.1฿2,266
-11.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.61R$70.1
$14.08฿462
-3.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.15R$98.6
$18.00฿591
6.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.78R$117
$41.06฿1,347
-44.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.49R$111
$6.96฿228
208.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28R$32.33
$5.92฿194
6.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269R$1,383
$299฿9,811
-10.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,548R$33.7K
$15.0K฿490.6K
-56.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.39R$254
$54.7฿1,795
-9.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.31R$213
$26.77฿878
54.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4R$388
$85.0฿2,788
-11.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6R$328
$70.6฿2,316
-9.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164R$843
$428฿14.0K
-61.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116R$600
$237฿7,787
-50.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312R$1,608
$801฿26.3K
-61.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228R$1,173
$515฿16.9K
-55.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,610R$8,291
$1,975฿64.8K
-18.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,164R$5,996
$1,475฿48.4K
-21.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilheus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$596R$3,070
$617฿20.3K
-3.47%
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 Ilheus: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $164 in Ilheus 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 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 $27.00 in Ilheus versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Ilheus vs $246 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 28% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,019 per month in Ilheus 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, 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Ilheus 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 Ilheus or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Ilheus and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ilheus or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ilheus costs $679 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 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 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.