Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maringa and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Maringa: $825 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maringa
🇧🇷 Brazil
$825
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maringa 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 Maringa and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $825 per month in Maringa vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Maringa $825
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $1,300 per month in Maringa vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Maringa $1,300
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $1,775 per month in Maringa vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Maringa $1,775
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Maringa is about 12% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Maringa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Maringa 39% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.17 R$31.26
$2.26 ฿75.4
173.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.87 R$121
$19.18 ฿641
24.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.46 R$42.91
$5.59 ฿187
51.34%
Cappuccino
$2.06 R$10.44
$1.72 ฿57.6
19.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 R$6.51
$0.64 ฿21.54
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 R$3.84
$0.33 ฿11.18
130.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.59 R$8.05
$2.36 ฿78.7
-32.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 R$13.49
$3.90 ฿130
-31.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 R$6.38
$2.05 ฿68.6
-38.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 R$6.76
$1.40 ฿46.70
-5.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.60
$1.28 ฿42.89
1.56%
Eggs
$2.06 R$10.46
$2.25 ฿75.3
-8.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.87 R$39.91
$16.94 ฿566
-53.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 R$18.54
$2.74 ฿91.6
33.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.04 R$45.84
$9.36 ฿313
-3.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 R$10.67
$2.40 ฿80.3
-12.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 R$7.96
$1.01 ฿33.92
55.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 R$4.49
$1.61 ฿53.9
-44.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 R$7.68
$1.52 ฿50.7
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 R$5.68
$1.28 ฿42.90
-12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 R$4.94
$1.11 ฿37.22
-12.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 R$5.15
$0.72 ฿24.09
41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 R$3.88
$0.52 ฿17.54
48.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05 R$10.40
$4.33 ฿145
-52.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.80 R$39.53
$17.73 ฿593
-56.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 R$3.95
$1.63 ฿54.4
-52.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 R$8.05
$2.85 ฿95.3
-44.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 R$4.97
$0.85 ฿28.31
15.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.45 R$235
$53.9 ฿1,801
-13.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 R$12.44
$1.17 ฿39.18
109.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 R$3.96
$0.57 ฿19.00
36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 R$14.43
$2.37 ฿79.2
20.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 R$6.33
$1.45 ฿48.32
-13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K R$182.1K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
75.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K R$166.3K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
23.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.1 R$426
$62.3 ฿2,083
34.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.15 R$56.5
$12.27 ฿410
-9.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.76 R$115
$19.97 ฿668
13.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.77 R$110
$37.91 ฿1,267
-42.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.8 R$258
$3.76 ฿126
1251.33%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90 R$29.89
$6.71 ฿224
-12.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$213 R$1,082
$797 ฿26.6K
-73.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,550 R$38.3K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-49.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.67 R$216
$53.3 ฿1,780
-19.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 R$294
$25.05 ฿837
131.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 R$446
$91.6 ฿3,062
-4.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.3 R$311
$73.5 ฿2,455
-16.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$337 R$1,710
$464 ฿15.5K
-27.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$203 R$1,029
$305 ฿10.2K
-33.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$627 R$3,178
$915 ฿30.6K
-31.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 R$1,958
$552 ฿18.5K
-30.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,473 R$7,466
$1,912 ฿63.9K
-22.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$961 R$4,870
$1,438 ฿48.1K
-33.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maringa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$786 R$3,985
$595 ฿19.9K
32.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.5
5.57
88.51%

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

Last update for Maringa: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Maringa
$203
Chiang Mai
$305 50.1% $102
Groceries & Markets
Maringa
$181
Chiang Mai
$238 31.7% $57
Eating Out
Maringa
$121
Chiang Mai
$79 34.6% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maringa
$118
Chiang Mai
$95 19.8% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Maringa
$112
Chiang Mai
$110 2.6% $3
Getting Around
Maringa
$57
Chiang Mai
$61 8.1% $4.6
Sport & Entertainment
Maringa
$34
Chiang Mai
$51 53% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Maringa versus $464 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 32% higher in Maringa, 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 $24.00 in Maringa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Maringa vs $238 in Chiang Mai – so Maringa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Maringa
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
09:34 9:34 AM
19:34 7:34 PM
10 h ahead of Maringa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
409,657
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 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maringa Chiang Mai 16,960 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Maringa
  • 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
Maringa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Maringa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Maringa, 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 Maringa and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,238 per month in Maringa and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Maringa or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maringa, 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 Maringa and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $213 per month in Maringa and $797 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 Maringa or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,500/month in Maringa or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maringa, where all-in costs run around $825, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Maringa 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, Maringa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maringa costs $825 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Maringa 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 Maringa or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Maringa. 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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