Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Seguro and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Seguro and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $787 per month in Porto Seguro vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,226 per month in Porto Seguro vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,666 per month in Porto Seguro vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Porto Seguro is about 7% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Porto Seguro and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Porto Seguro 41% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.15 R$30.59
$1.95 ฿62.8
215.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.10 R$75.0
$18.43 ฿594
-18.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.74 R$33.48
$7.50 ฿241
-10.13%
Cappuccino
$1.46 R$7.28
$1.93 ฿62.3
-24.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 R$5.57
$0.78 ฿25.08
43.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 R$3.23
$0.32 ฿10.42
103.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.64 R$8.17
$2.15 ฿69.2
-23.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 R$14.20
$3.71 ฿120
-22.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 R$6.21
$1.71 ฿55.2
-26.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 R$7.21
$1.56 ฿50.3
-7.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 R$5.84
$1.18 ฿38.06
-
Eggs
$1.94 R$9.66
$1.98 ฿63.9
-2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.29 R$41.19
$16.04 ฿517
-48.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.53 R$17.56
$3.17 ฿102
11.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.36 R$36.58
$10.94 ฿353
-32.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 R$10.20
$2.63 ฿84.7
-22.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.42
$1.17 ฿37.61
10.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.75
$1.65 ฿53.0
-29.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 R$7.25
$1.54 ฿49.51
-5.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.76
$1.38 ฿44.34
-15.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 R$5.25
$1.17 ฿37.54
-9.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 R$3.51
$0.66 ฿21.25
7.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 R$7.21
$0.51 ฿16.55
184.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07 R$10.28
$4.52 ฿146
-54.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.87 R$29.16
$18.32 ฿590
-67.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 R$6.08
$1.80 ฿57.9
-32.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 R$10.37
$3.18 ฿102
-34.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R$4.57
$0.90 ฿28.97
2.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.96 R$189
$19.00 ฿612
99.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 R$5.51
$1.41 ฿45.50
-21.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 R$3.47
$1.31 ฿42.15
-46.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.46 R$32.09
$8.09 ฿261
-20.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 R$5.79
$1.28 ฿41.08
-9.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K R$103.5K
$21.3K ฿686.1K
-2.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K R$137.1K
$21.7K ฿699.3K
27.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 R$306
$69.2 ฿2,230
-11.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56 R$67.4
$13.97 ฿450
-2.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.28 R$80.9
$17.95 ฿578
-9.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.77 R$113
$42.31 ฿1,363
-46.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.64 R$108
$6.66 ฿214
224.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22 R$30.93
$5.92 ฿191
5.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 R$1,323
$299 ฿9,640
-11.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,359 R$31.6K
$14.8K ฿478.4K
-57.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.29 R$245
$56.2 ฿1,810
-12.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.81 R$213
$26.94 ฿868
58.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 R$378
$84.9 ฿2,735
-10.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.2 R$324
$71.8 ฿2,314
-9.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$315 R$1,563
$435 ฿14.0K
-27.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 R$1,061
$240 ฿7,727
-11.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 R$2,529
$798 ฿25.7K
-36.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 R$2,151
$498 ฿16.1K
-13.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,694 R$8,418
$1,995 ฿64.3K
-15.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,190 R$5,916
$1,532 ฿49.4K
-22.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Seguro
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$331 R$1,645
$628 ฿20.2K
-47.31%
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 Porto Seguro: April 22, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Porto Seguro versus $435 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 90% 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 $15 in Porto Seguro versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $244 – making Porto Seguro 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
Porto Seguro vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Porto Seguro or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Porto Seguro, 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 Porto Seguro vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,180 per month in Porto Seguro and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Porto Seguro or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Porto Seguro, 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 Porto Seguro and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Porto Seguro 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 Porto Seguro or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 34% 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 $1,000/month in Porto Seguro or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $787 in Porto Seguro and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Porto Seguro or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Porto Seguro costs $787 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Porto Seguro 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 Porto Seguro or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Porto Seguro. 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.

Porto Seguro vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities