😐A single person spends $1,752 per month in Queluz vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,531 per month in Queluz vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,311 per month in Queluz vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Queluz costs about 88% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Queluz sits 28% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.98€12.12
$2.08฿69.3
572.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.41€24.62
$19.61฿653
44.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.80€5.89
$5.67฿189
19.93%
Cappuccino
$0.91€0.79
$1.81฿60.1
-49.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.47
$0.77฿25.56
120.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.02
$0.35฿11.49
237.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17€1.01
$2.21฿73.7
-47.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$3.79฿126
-39.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.24
$2.05฿68.1
-30.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40€1.21
$1.51฿50.4
-7.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72€1.49
$1.40฿46.54
22.86%
Eggs
$4.32€3.75
$2.26฿75.1
91.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.51€15.18
$16.19฿539
8.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.92
$2.90฿96.4
175.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.31€24.53
$9.42฿313
200.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29€2.85
$2.68฿89.1
22.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38€1.20
$1.09฿36.25
26.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83€1.59
$1.62฿53.8
12.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24€1.94
$1.46฿48.58
53.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11€1.83
$1.28฿42.51
64.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.86
$1.06฿35.19
101.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.80€1.56
$0.72฿23.86
150.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$0.53฿17.50
77.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86€7.68
$4.23฿141
109.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.34€5.49
$18.29฿609
-65.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98€0.85
$1.63฿54.2
-39.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.47
$2.90฿96.5
-41.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.43€2.10
$0.88฿29.22
176.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.81€39.70
$53.8฿1,789
-14.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.06€3.52
$1.17฿39.02
247.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22€1.05
$0.58฿19.24
110.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.92€15.53
$2.39฿79.4
649.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.80
$1.45฿48.25
43.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$21.0K฿699.1K
63.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K€34.8K
$26.4K฿879.1K
51.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154€134
$63.7฿2,118
142.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.77€18.86
$12.89฿429
68.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0€49.42
$20.52฿683
177.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.22€36.59
$39.02฿1,298
8.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.57€16.10
$3.92฿130
373.72%
Cinema Ticket
$8.31€7.21
$6.58฿219
26.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$678€587
$784฿26.1K
-13.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$14.7K฿488.2K
9.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6€69.9
$55.1฿1,834
46.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3€50.5
$24.74฿823
135.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4€69.6
$94.1฿3,132
-14.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6€61.2
$74.0฿2,461
-4.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,079€935
$490฿16.3K
120.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$760€659
$288฿9,588
163.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,607€1,392
$891฿29.7K
80.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,276€1,105
$521฿17.3K
144.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,927€2,536
$1,974฿65.7K
48.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,270€1,967
$1,444฿48.1K
57.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queluz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.65
5.57
-16.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Queluz: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,079 in Queluz 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Queluz versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai 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
Queluz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Queluz or Chiang Mai?
Queluz costs about 88% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Queluz and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,628 per month in Queluz and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Queluz 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 Queluz and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $678 per month in Queluz and $784 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 Queluz or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Queluz, 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 Queluz or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Queluz at $1,752. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Queluz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Queluz or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,752 in Queluz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Queluz 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 Queluz or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Queluz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.