Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $801 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,275 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,748 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sao Joao da Boa Vista is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sao Joao da Boa Vista 40% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 R$28.41

$1.94 ฿63.8

184.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.94 R$139

$18.64 ฿611

44.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 R$30.14

$7.82 ฿256

-25.19%

Cappuccino

$1.98 R$10.18

$1.95 ฿64.1

1.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 R$6.34

$0.85 ฿27.90

44.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.41

$0.35 ฿11.64

145.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 R$10.82

$2.13 ฿69.9

-1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 R$13.85

$3.73 ฿122

-27.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 R$4.69

$1.71 ฿56.2

-46.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 R$8.21

$1.63 ฿53.4

-2.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 R$7.10

$1.14 ฿37.32

21.05%

Eggs

$2.87 R$14.81

$1.93 ฿63.4

48.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 R$65.1

$16.21 ฿532

-22.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 R$21.11

$3.12 ฿102

31.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.63 R$44.44

$10.90 ฿357

-20.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 R$8.33

$2.75 ฿90.4

-41.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 R$6.26

$1.21 ฿39.70

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 R$10.96

$1.62 ฿53.2

31.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 R$9.28

$1.59 ฿52.1

13.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 R$6.49

$1.40 ฿45.91

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.39

$1.17 ฿38.34

5.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 R$5.57

$0.66 ฿21.70

63.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 R$2.40

$0.53 ฿17.30

-11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 R$11.24

$4.69 ฿154

-53.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 R$31.48

$18.66 ฿612

-67.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 R$6.98

$1.80 ฿59.0

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 R$10.96

$3.23 ฿106

-34.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 R$4.71

$0.90 ฿29.39

1.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.20 R$202

$19.21 ฿630

104.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 R$6.55

$1.41 ฿46.13

-9.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 R$5.46

$1.29 ฿42.31

-17.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 R$32.62

$7.84 ฿257

-19.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 R$4.29

$1.27 ฿41.77

-34.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K R$108.0K

$21.3K ฿698.1K

-1.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.0K R$149.3K

$22.2K ฿728.8K

30.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$86.1 R$443

$69.1 ฿2,266

24.58%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.79 R$60.8

$14.08 ฿462

-16.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.17 R$93.6

$18.00 ฿591

0.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.67 R$117

$41.06 ฿1,347

-44.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 R$113

$6.96 ฿228

216.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.58 R$23.62

$5.92 ฿194

-22.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$289 R$1,487

$299 ฿9,811

-3.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,849 R$40.4K

$15.0K ฿490.6K

-47.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.30 R$239

$54.7 ฿1,795

-15.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.86 R$200

$26.77 ฿878

45.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.38 R$203

$85.0 ฿2,788

-53.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.68 R$210

$70.6 ฿2,316

-42.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 R$1,649

$428 ฿14.0K

-25.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 R$1,091

$237 ฿7,787

-10.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 R$3,010

$801 ฿26.3K

-27.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 R$2,224

$515 ฿16.9K

-16.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,793 R$9,236

$1,975 ฿64.8K

-9.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,206 R$6,212

$1,475 ฿48.4K

-18.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 R$3,356

$617 ฿20.3K

5.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

140.00%

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

Last update for Sao Joao da Boa Vista: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista versus $428 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 6% higher in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Sao Joao da Boa Vista wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Sao Joao da Boa Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,201 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $289 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $801 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sao Joao da Boa Vista costs $801 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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.