🙂A single person spends $733 per month in Pelotas vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Pelotas vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,541 per month in Pelotas vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Pelotas is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Pelotas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pelotas47% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.82R$29.70
$2.08฿68.6
179.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.14R$87.4
$19.64฿646
-12.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.58R$33.54
$5.65฿186
16.46%
Cappuccino
$2.61R$13.33
$1.81฿59.4
44.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31R$6.70
$0.71฿23.45
84.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70R$3.56
$0.32฿10.38
118.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.41R$7.18
$2.24฿73.6
-37.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52R$7.77
$3.63฿119
-58.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93R$4.74
$1.96฿64.4
-52.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14R$5.82
$1.50฿49.39
-24.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84R$4.29
$1.34฿43.93
-37.31%
Eggs
$2.17R$11.06
$2.26฿74.5
-3.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.48R$48.35
$16.26฿535
-41.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.44R$22.63
$2.95฿97.1
50.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.27R$47.26
$9.94฿327
-6.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33R$11.88
$2.57฿84.6
-9.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13R$5.77
$1.06฿34.73
6.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39R$7.11
$1.61฿53.0
-13.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19R$6.06
$1.52฿49.97
-21.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17R$5.96
$1.27฿41.77
-7.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99R$5.04
$1.07฿35.06
-7.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83R$4.22
$0.72฿23.68
15.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50R$2.55
$0.51฿16.72
-1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33R$11.87
$4.19฿138
-44.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.20R$36.72
$17.87฿587
-59.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.35
$1.69฿55.7
-60.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.72
$2.84฿93.3
-67.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19R$6.08
$0.93฿30.43
27.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.1R$260
$53.9฿1,771
-5.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.22R$6.20
$1.23฿40.59
-0.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77R$3.92
$0.58฿18.96
32.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.92R$40.40
$2.42฿79.7
227.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R$6.37
$1.41฿46.43
-11.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KR$118.7K
$21.4K฿705.1K
8.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3KR$164.8K
$27.3K฿898.7K
18.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.7R$365
$63.7฿2,093
12.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.32R$37.35
$12.85฿423
-43.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47R$99.3
$20.22฿665
-3.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.32R$98.5
$38.74฿1,274
-50.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.91R$96.5
$3.97฿130
376.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.67R$23.80
$6.74฿222
-30.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$535R$2,726
$778฿25.6K
-31.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.6KR$130.5K
$14.6K฿480.4K
75.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.29R$175
$54.3฿1,785
-36.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.94R$148
$25.45฿837
13.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.9R$300
$94.3฿3,102
-37.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1R$383
$73.4฿2,415
2.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$224R$1,145
$490฿16.1K
-54.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$163R$831
$289฿9,512
-43.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$378R$1,928
$894฿29.4K
-57.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$307R$1,567
$517฿17.0K
-40.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,503R$7,664
$1,955฿64.3K
-23.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$761R$3,881
$1,477฿48.6K
-48.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pelotas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$426R$2,171
$602฿19.8K
-29.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
5.57
106.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pelotas: August 29, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $224 in Pelotas versus $490 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 41% 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 $17.00 in Pelotas versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $240 – making Pelotas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Pelotas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pelotas or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Pelotas, 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 Pelotas and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,099 per month in Pelotas and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pelotas or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pelotas, 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 Pelotas and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $535 per month in Pelotas and $778 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 Pelotas or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 37% 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 $2,000/month in Pelotas or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pelotas, where all-in costs run around $733, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Pelotas 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, Pelotas or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pelotas costs $733 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pelotas 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 Pelotas or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Pelotas. 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.