Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Carlos and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Carlos and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Sao Carlos is 5.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 9.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Sao Carlos is 8.7% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.6 R$25.55
$2.02 āļŋ65.3
127.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.65 R$181
$18.78 āļŋ608
73.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.78 R$37.65
$7.67 āļŋ248
-11.60%
Cappuccino
$1.74 R$9.68
$1.98 āļŋ64.2
-12.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 R$6.42
$0.82 āļŋ26.64
41.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 R$3.5
$0.33 āļŋ10.58
90.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 R$8.16
$2.12 āļŋ68.6
-30.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 R$16.78
$3.73 āļŋ121
-19.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 R$6.04
$1.64 āļŋ53.2
-33.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 R$8.42
$1.57 āļŋ50.9
-3.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.57 R$14.24
$1.19 āļŋ38.62
115.97%
Eggs
$2.23 R$12.37
$1.98 āļŋ64.1
12.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 R$53
$15.99 āļŋ517
-40.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.17 R$23.13
$3.12 āļŋ101
33.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.74 R$42.96
$11.16 āļŋ361
-30.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 R$12.94
$2.76 āļŋ89.2
-15.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 R$8.38
$1.22 āļŋ39.5
23.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 R$8.47
$1.71 āļŋ55.4
-10.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 R$11.04
$1.55 āļŋ50.2
28.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 R$8.47
$1.34 āļŋ43.21
14.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.87
$1.21 āļŋ39.23
2.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.9 R$4.98
$0.72 āļŋ23.2
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 R$4.32
$0.53 āļŋ17.05
47.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.1 R$11.63
$4.72 āļŋ153
-55.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.24 R$40.17
$18.39 āļŋ595
-60.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 R$7.07
$1.79 āļŋ57.9
-29.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 R$14.01
$3.21 āļŋ104
-21.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 R$5.17
$0.94 āļŋ30.44
-1.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.89 R$121
$18.9 āļŋ612
15.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 R$7.29
$1.42 āļŋ46.08
-7.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 R$5.34
$1.35 āļŋ43.53
-28.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 R$18.39
$7.85 āļŋ254
-57.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 R$5.76
$1.25 āļŋ40.4
-16.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K R$161.3K
$21.2K āļŋ684.9K
37.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K R$162.2K
$21.8K āļŋ706.8K
33.81%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.1 R$395
$70.6 āļŋ2,285
0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76 R$81.9
$13.72 āļŋ444
7.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 R$103
$17.56 āļŋ568
5.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.55 R$114
$41.64 āļŋ1,347
-50.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.92 R$222
$6.9 āļŋ223
478.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22 R$23.42
$5.8 āļŋ188
-27.24%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 R$1,707
$308 āļŋ9,963
-0.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,678 R$14.9K
$14.7K āļŋ475.8K
-81.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.58 R$259
$55.4 āļŋ1,793
-15.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.53 R$203
$26.4 āļŋ854
38.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 R$560
$85.1 āļŋ2,755
18.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6 R$503
$71.8 āļŋ2,323
26.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$219 R$1,218
$434 āļŋ14K
-49.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$216 R$1,202
$235 āļŋ7,610
-7.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 R$2,437
$821 āļŋ26.6K
-46.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$486 R$2,696
$498 āļŋ16.1K
-2.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$693 R$3,845
$2,180 āļŋ70.6K
-68.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$850 R$4,718
$1,543 āļŋ49.9K
-44.91%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Sao Carlos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$828 R$4,594
$703 āļŋ22.8K
17.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
5
113.40%

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

Last update for Sao Carlos: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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