Cost of Living Comparison Between Sete Lagoas and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sete Lagoas and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $647 per month in Sete Lagoas vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,036 per month in Sete Lagoas vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,424 per month in Sete Lagoas vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sete Lagoas is about 31% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sete Lagoas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sete Lagoas 53% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.73 R$29.48
$2.08 ฿69.3
175.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.66 R$117
$19.61 ฿653
15.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.37 R$27.61
$5.67 ฿189
-5.29%
Cappuccino
$0.56 R$2.86
$1.81 ฿60.1
-69.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 R$5.14
$0.77 ฿25.58
29.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 R$2.89
$0.35 ฿11.49
60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 R$6.07
$2.21 ฿73.7
-46.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 R$9.30
$3.79 ฿126
-52.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 R$4.76
$2.05 ฿68.2
-54.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 R$3.42
$1.51 ฿50.4
-55.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.20
$1.40 ฿46.57
-
Eggs
$1.74 R$8.97
$2.26 ฿75.2
-23.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.01 R$30.89
$16.19 ฿539
-62.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.86 R$14.71
$2.90 ฿96.4
-1.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.86 R$40.44
$9.42 ฿314
-16.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 R$5.14
$2.68 ฿89.2
-62.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 R$5.78
$1.09 ฿36.28
2.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.60 R$3.11
$1.62 ฿53.8
-62.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.96 R$4.91
$1.46 ฿48.61
-34.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 R$3.23
$1.28 ฿42.54
-50.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 R$3.04
$1.06 ฿35.21
-44.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 R$2.55
$0.72 ฿23.88
-30.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$2.85
$0.53 ฿17.51
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.58 R$8.10
$4.23 ฿141
-62.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.88 R$30.26
$18.29 ฿609
-67.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 R$3.08
$1.63 ฿54.3
-63.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.22
$2.90 ฿96.6
-65.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.18
$0.88 ฿29.24
14.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.25 R$222
$53.8 ฿1,790
-19.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 R$1.92
$1.17 ฿39.04
-68.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 R$1.43
$0.58 ฿19.25
-51.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.95 R$40.90
$2.39 ฿79.4
232.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 R$4.96
$1.45 ฿48.28
-33.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.4K R$68.7K
$21.0K ฿699.5K
-36.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R$121.8K
$26.4K ฿879.7K
-10.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.89 R$246
$63.7 ฿2,119
-24.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 R$49.87
$12.89 ฿429
-24.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 R$97.0
$20.52 ฿683
-8.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.63 R$132
$39.02 ฿1,299
-34.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.67 R$137
$3.92 ฿130
580.36%
Cinema Ticket
$3.82 R$19.66
$6.58 ฿219
-41.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 R$605
$784 ฿26.1K
-84.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,593 R$13.3K
$14.7K ฿488.4K
-82.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.72 R$49.97
$55.1 ฿1,835
-82.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.00 R$51.4
$24.74 ฿824
-59.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$39.60 R$204
$94.1 ฿3,133
-57.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.14 R$201
$74.0 ฿2,462
-47.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$346 R$1,778
$490 ฿16.3K
-29.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 R$1,224
$288 ฿9,594
-17.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$644 R$3,314
$891 ฿29.7K
-27.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 R$2,372
$521 ฿17.3K
-11.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,619 R$8,325
$1,974 ฿65.7K
-17.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,157 R$5,948
$1,444 ฿48.1K
-19.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sete Lagoas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$436 R$2,240
$602 ฿20.0K
-27.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
5.57
91.56%

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

Last update for Sete Lagoas: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $346 in Sete Lagoas 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 38% 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 $23.00 in Sete Lagoas versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $132 in Sete Lagoas vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Sete Lagoas 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
Sete Lagoas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sete Lagoas or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Sete Lagoas, 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 Sete Lagoas and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $971 per month in Sete Lagoas 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, Sete Lagoas or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sete Lagoas, 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 Sete Lagoas and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Sete Lagoas 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 Sete Lagoas or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 83% 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 $1,500/month in Sete Lagoas or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sete Lagoas, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sete Lagoas 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, Sete Lagoas or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sete Lagoas costs $647 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sete Lagoas 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 Sete Lagoas or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sete Lagoas. 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.

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