Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Iguacu and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Nova Iguacu: $699 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nova Iguacu, Brazil
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nova Iguacu
🇧🇷 Brazil
$699
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $699 per month in Nova Iguacu vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Nova Iguacu $699
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,148 per month in Nova Iguacu vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Nova Iguacu $1,148
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,596 per month in Nova Iguacu vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Nova Iguacu $1,596
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Nova Iguacu is about 25% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nova Iguacu and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nova Iguacu 49% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 R$18.37
$2.24 ฿75.5
50.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.04 R$152
$19.00 ฿640
47.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.49 R$40.71
$5.55 ฿187
34.95%
Cappuccino
$1.85 R$10.04
$1.67 ฿56.4
10.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 R$6.02
$0.64 ฿21.51
73.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 R$3.02
$0.31 ฿10.29
80.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.62 R$8.78
$2.36 ฿79.5
-31.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 R$7.96
$3.66 ฿123
-60.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 R$6.37
$1.95 ฿65.7
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 R$8.17
$1.44 ฿48.41
4.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.81
$1.33 ฿44.97
-19.55%
Eggs
$1.91 R$10.41
$2.28 ฿77.0
-16.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 R$41.01
$16.45 ฿554
-54.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.69 R$14.62
$2.78 ฿93.8
-3.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.67 R$36.24
$9.31 ฿314
-28.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.99
$2.35 ฿79.3
-45.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.91
$0.97 ฿32.75
30.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 R$5.29
$1.60 ฿53.8
-39.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 R$9.15
$1.50 ฿50.6
12.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 R$5.29
$1.28 ฿43.06
-24.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 R$5.14
$1.10 ฿37.14
-13.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 R$1.93
$0.71 ฿23.79
-49.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 R$1.92
$0.49 ฿16.34
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78 R$9.69
$4.14 ฿140
-57.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 R$30.56
$17.52 ฿590
-67.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 R$5.13
$1.61 ฿54.4
-41.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 R$6.95
$2.78 ฿93.8
-53.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 R$7.48
$0.87 ฿29.27
58.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.02 R$256
$54.1 ฿1,823
-13.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 R$6.69
$1.16 ฿39.00
6.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 R$6.88
$0.53 ฿17.78
139.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.98 R$48.81
$2.42 ฿81.6
271.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 R$5.75
$1.45 ฿48.82
-26.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K R$119.5K
$21.1K ฿709.7K
4.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K R$171.1K
$26.9K ฿907.9K
16.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.25 R$219
$62.2 ฿2,095
-35.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.14 R$60.6
$12.17 ฿410
-8.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.78 R$91.2
$20.12 ฿678
-16.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.27 R$121
$37.31 ฿1,257
-40.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.96 R$206
$3.77 ฿127
906.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 R$29.73
$6.49 ฿219
-15.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$70.9 R$386
$736 ฿24.8K
-90.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,808 R$9,831
$14.8K ฿497.6K
-87.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 R$284
$53.4 ฿1,799
-2.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.91 R$195
$24.64 ฿830
45.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.2 R$327
$91.5 ฿3,083
-34.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.8 R$303
$71.9 ฿2,424
-22.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$306 R$1,665
$482 ฿16.3K
-36.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 R$1,124
$309 ฿10.4K
-33.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 R$3,255
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-40.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$425 R$2,308
$633 ฿21.3K
-32.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$905 R$4,922
$2,363 ฿79.6K
-61.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nova Iguacu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$230 R$1,248
$590 ฿19.9K
-61.08%
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 Nova Iguacu: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nova Iguacu
$207
Chiang Mai
$309 49.4% $102
Groceries & Markets
Nova Iguacu
$150
Chiang Mai
$234 56.1% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Nova Iguacu
$92
Chiang Mai
$109 18.2% $17
Eating Out
Nova Iguacu
$89
Chiang Mai
$78 13.1% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nova Iguacu
$68
Chiang Mai
$94 38.6% $26
Getting Around
Nova Iguacu
$60
Chiang Mai
$61 2.1% $1.3
Sport & Entertainment
Nova Iguacu
$33
Chiang Mai
$50 51.4% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Nova Iguacu 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 in Chiang Mai are about 2.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28 in Nova Iguacu versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in Nova Iguacu vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Nova Iguacu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Nova Iguacu
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
03:07 3:07 AM
13:07 1:07 PM
10 h ahead of Nova Iguacu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
785,867
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 November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 5.44 BRL (1 BRL = 0.184 USD). 1 EUR = 6.09 BRL (1 BRL = 0.164 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nova Iguacu Chiang Mai 16,100 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nova Iguacu
  • 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
Nova Iguacu vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nova Iguacu or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 34% more than Nova Iguacu, 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 Nova Iguacu and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,049 per month in Nova Iguacu 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, Nova Iguacu or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nova Iguacu, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $306 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Nova Iguacu and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $71 per month in Nova Iguacu 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 Nova Iguacu or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Nova Iguacu or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $699 in Nova Iguacu 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 Nova Iguacu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Nova Iguacu or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Nova Iguacu. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Nova Iguacu vs other spots: cost of living compared

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