🙂A single person spends $609 per month in Varginha vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $975 per month in Varginha vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,341 per month in Varginha vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Varginha is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Varginha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Varginha54% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.25R$31.12
$1.96฿63.6
218.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.56R$107
$18.81฿611
14.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.31R$31.44
$7.92฿258
-20.33%
Cappuccino
$0.94R$4.67
$1.91฿62.2
-50.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83R$4.13
$0.84฿27.25
-1.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55R$2.75
$0.35฿11.44
57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29R$6.43
$2.21฿71.7
-41.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33R$16.60
$3.80฿124
-12.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12R$5.58
$1.64฿53.2
-31.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45R$7.24
$1.62฿52.8
-10.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88R$4.39
$1.18฿38.40
-25.42%
Eggs
$1.34R$6.65
$2.01฿65.4
-33.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.81R$38.91
$15.89฿517
-50.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.78R$18.83
$3.01฿98.0
25.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.35R$36.60
$10.77฿350
-31.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23R$6.15
$2.61฿85.0
-52.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27R$6.34
$1.22฿39.65
4.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86R$4.29
$1.70฿55.4
-49.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13R$5.65
$1.58฿51.2
-28.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85R$4.23
$1.32฿42.89
-35.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93R$4.63
$1.17฿38.01
-20.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47R$2.32
$0.67฿21.85
-29.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55R$2.72
$0.56฿18.21
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00R$9.96
$4.53฿147
-55.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.02R$25.00
$18.20฿592
-72.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02R$5.06
$1.83฿59.6
-44.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66R$8.28
$3.23฿105
-48.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82R$4.08
$0.89฿28.83
-7.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.44R$191
$19.38฿630
98.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87R$4.33
$1.35฿43.95
-35.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62R$3.09
$1.35฿43.79
-54.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91R$29.41
$8.25฿268
-28.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05R$5.23
$1.27฿41.40
-17.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KR$111.0K
$21.2K฿687.8K
5.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KR$132.5K
$22.5K฿731.0K
18.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.61R$232
$70.2฿2,281
-33.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.43R$22.06
$13.77฿448
-67.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.80R$88.7
$17.60฿572
1.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.86R$114
$41.57฿1,352
-45.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.46R$107
$6.60฿215
225.15%
Cinema Ticket
$5.29R$26.37
$5.78฿188
-8.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$195R$974
$306฿9,953
-36.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,925R$19.5K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-73.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.96R$164
$54.4฿1,768
-39.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0R$259
$26.14฿850
98.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9R$358
$84.5฿2,748
-14.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.6R$267
$69.4฿2,257
-22.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$134R$666
$424฿13.8K
-68.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106R$530
$238฿7,743
-55.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$246R$1,224
$825฿26.8K
-70.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$230R$1,147
$515฿16.7K
-55.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,644R$8,189
$2,049฿66.6K
-19.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,202R$5,986
$1,523฿49.5K
-21.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varginha
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$462R$2,298
$635฿20.6K
-27.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
5
100.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Varginha: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $134 in Varginha versus $424 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 $22.00 in Varginha versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $153 in Varginha vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Varginha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Varginha vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Varginha or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Varginha, 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 Varginha vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $914 per month in Varginha and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Varginha or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Varginha, 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 Varginha and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $195 per month in Varginha and $306 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 Varginha or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 59% 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 $1,000/month in Varginha or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $609 in Varginha and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Varginha or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Varginha costs $609 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Varginha 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 Varginha or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Varginha. 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.