😐A single person spends $867 per month in Manaus vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,347 per month in Manaus vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,828 per month in Manaus vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Manaus costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Manaus and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manaus35% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.36R$26.67
$1.96฿63.6
173.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.32R$126
$18.81฿611
34.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.27R$31.23
$7.92฿258
-20.83%
Cappuccino
$2.03R$10.13
$1.91฿62.2
6.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00R$5.00
$0.84฿27.25
19.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71R$3.55
$0.35฿11.44
102.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48R$12.36
$2.21฿71.7
12.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88R$24.33
$3.80฿124
28.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26R$6.26
$1.64฿53.2
-23.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41R$7.01
$1.62฿52.8
-12.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15R$5.74
$1.18฿38.40
-2.54%
Eggs
$2.03R$10.11
$2.01฿65.4
1.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.72R$48.43
$15.89฿517
-38.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.67R$18.27
$3.01฿98.0
21.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.60R$32.85
$10.77฿350
-38.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.14R$10.68
$2.61฿85.0
-18.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52R$7.56
$1.22฿39.65
24.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29R$6.41
$1.70฿55.4
-24.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.82R$9.06
$1.58฿51.2
15.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18R$5.90
$1.32฿42.89
-10.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14R$5.65
$1.17฿38.01
-2.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70R$3.46
$0.67฿21.85
4.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64R$3.20
$0.56฿18.21
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53R$17.60
$4.53฿147
-22.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.98R$44.72
$18.20฿592
-50.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36R$6.78
$1.83฿59.6
-25.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09R$10.40
$3.23฿105
-35.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79R$3.92
$0.89฿28.83
-11.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.32R$176
$19.38฿630
82.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94R$4.68
$1.35฿43.95
-30.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67R$3.33
$1.35฿43.79
-50.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.87R$44.20
$8.25฿268
7.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20R$5.99
$1.27฿41.40
-5.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KR$98.3K
$21.2K฿687.8K
-6.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KR$112.9K
$22.5K฿731.0K
0.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106R$530
$70.2฿2,281
51.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.15R$70.5
$13.77฿448
2.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.95R$114
$17.60฿572
30.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.09R$115
$41.57฿1,352
-44.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24R$116
$6.60฿215
252.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.01R$29.93
$5.78฿188
3.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202R$1,007
$306฿9,953
-33.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,758R$23.7K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-67.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65R$227
$54.4฿1,768
-16.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.97R$144
$26.14฿850
10.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.2R$270
$84.5฿2,748
-35.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.3R$315
$69.4฿2,257
-8.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392R$1,953
$424฿13.8K
-7.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238R$1,185
$238฿7,743
-0.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$666R$3,318
$825฿26.8K
-19.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$493R$2,456
$515฿16.7K
-4.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,761R$8,772
$2,049฿66.6K
-14.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,310R$6,524
$1,523฿49.5K
-13.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manaus
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$529R$2,634
$635฿20.6K
-16.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.83
5
96.60%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Manaus: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Manaus versus $424 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 20% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Manaus versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Manaus vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Manaus wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Manaus vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Manaus or Chiang Mai?
Manaus costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, 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 Manaus vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Manaus and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Manaus 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 Manaus and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Manaus and $306 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 Manaus or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Manaus – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Manaus or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $867 in Manaus and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manaus or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $867 in Manaus. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Manaus 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 Manaus or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manaus makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.