🙂A single person spends $760 per month in Valinhos vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,301 per month in Valinhos vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,841 per month in Valinhos vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Valinhos is about 10% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Valinhos and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Valinhos43% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32R$26.42
$1.95฿62.8
172.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.47R$137
$18.43฿594
49.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89R$29.26
$7.50฿241
-21.47%
Cappuccino
$1.73R$8.58
$1.93฿62.3
-10.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19R$5.92
$0.78฿25.08
52.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76R$3.78
$0.32฿10.42
137.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.18
$2.15฿69.2
-13.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64R$13.11
$3.71฿120
-28.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R$4.99
$1.71฿55.2
-41.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61R$8.00
$1.56฿50.3
3.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19R$5.90
$1.18฿38.06
0.85%
Eggs
$2.29R$11.39
$1.98฿63.9
15.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.22R$50.8
$16.04฿517
-36.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.13R$20.55
$3.17฿102
30.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.34R$41.47
$10.94฿353
-23.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69R$8.42
$2.63฿84.7
-35.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26R$6.25
$1.17฿37.61
7.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44R$7.14
$1.65฿53.0
-12.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.71R$8.52
$1.54฿49.51
11.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27R$6.31
$1.38฿44.34
-7.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28R$6.38
$1.17฿37.54
9.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02R$5.06
$0.66฿21.25
54.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68R$3.37
$0.51฿16.55
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79R$8.88
$4.52฿146
-60.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.89R$39.19
$18.32฿590
-56.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32R$6.55
$1.80฿57.9
-26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99R$9.87
$3.18฿102
-37.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.59
$0.90฿28.97
2.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.04R$189
$19.00฿612
100.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15R$5.73
$1.41฿45.50
-18.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59R$2.93
$1.31฿42.15
-54.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77R$38.63
$8.09฿261
-3.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03R$5.12
$1.28฿41.08
-19.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KR$101.2K
$21.3K฿686.1K
-4.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KR$138.8K
$21.7K฿699.3K
28.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.8R$263
$69.2฿2,230
-23.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.16R$60.4
$13.97฿450
-12.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.40R$111
$17.95฿578
24.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.34R$111
$42.31฿1,363
-47.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.71R$108
$6.66฿214
225.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.25R$36.01
$5.92฿191
22.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$293R$1,455
$299฿9,640
-2.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,076R$40.1K
$14.8K฿478.4K
-45.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.62R$232
$56.2฿1,810
-17.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.93R$193
$26.94฿868
44.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.8R$402
$84.9฿2,735
-4.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.21R$210
$71.8฿2,314
-41.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$321R$1,595
$435฿14.0K
-26.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213R$1,057
$240฿7,727
-11.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450R$2,237
$798฿25.7K
-43.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$540R$2,683
$498฿16.1K
8.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,654R$8,221
$1,995฿64.3K
-17.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,195R$5,937
$1,532฿49.4K
-22.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valinhos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.17
5
123.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valinhos: April 21, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Valinhos 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Valinhos versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Valinhos vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Valinhos 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
Valinhos vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Valinhos or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Valinhos, 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 Valinhos vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,140 per month in Valinhos 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, Valinhos or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Valinhos, 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 Valinhos and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $293 per month in Valinhos 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 Valinhos or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 27% 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 $1,200/month in Valinhos or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $760 in Valinhos and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Valinhos or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Valinhos costs $760 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 Valinhos 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 Valinhos or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Valinhos. 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.