😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,772 in Abano Terme versus $950 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,668 in Abano Terme versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,564 in Abano Terme versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Abano Terme is roughly 86% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Abano Terme is 28% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.43€14.16
$2.10฿69.3
682.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.5€73.7
$19.84฿656
330.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.00€9.48
$5.79฿191
89.98%
Cappuccino
$2.05€1.76
$1.83฿60.4
12.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.77
$0.78฿25.61
311.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46€1.26
$0.31฿10.37
370.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.12€4.42
$2.34฿77.2
118.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84€4.17
$3.70฿122
30.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$2.03฿67.1
-13.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.80
$1.60฿52.7
30.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18€2.74
$1.42฿46.75
123.94%
Eggs
$3.71€3.20
$2.18฿71.9
70.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.68€14.38
$15.91฿526
4.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.68€10.93
$3.07฿102
313.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.09€14.73
$9.87฿326
73.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.22
$2.63฿86.8
-2.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.10฿36.19
82.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.63฿53.8
51.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63€3.12
$1.53฿50.6
137.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$1.24฿41.13
41.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$1.13฿37.37
81.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.43
$0.74฿24.38
124.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62€0.53
$0.50฿16.48
24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.47
$4.28฿141
48.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€7.02
$17.97฿594
-54.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62€1.40
$1.70฿56.1
-4.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.74
$2.90฿95.7
-30.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.46
$0.94฿31.13
79.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.27€35.57
$55.3฿1,827
-25.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.49€4.73
$1.23฿40.76
346.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89€1.63
$0.53฿17.66
256.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.58€30.67
$2.40฿79.3
1382.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.60
$1.44฿47.55
28.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K€32.8K
$21.2K฿700.2K
79.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K€35.0K
$27.3K฿902.1K
48.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$246€212
$64.9฿2,145
278.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.42€10.71
$13.35฿441
-6.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.48€30.58
$20.83฿688
70.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.8€50.7
$40.42฿1,336
45.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.43€19.33
$3.95฿131
467.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.01
$6.71฿222
38.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$550€474
$787฿26.0K
-30.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,779
$15.1K฿499.6K
-24.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.2
$56.2฿1,858
82.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.10€33.70
$24.95฿824
56.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$92.7฿3,063
9.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114€98.5
$75.1฿2,482
52.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$661€569
$484฿16.0K
36.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$540€466
$287฿9,491
88.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,313€1,131
$910฿30.1K
44.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,032€890
$531฿17.5K
94.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,250€2,801
$1,980฿65.4K
64.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,987€1,712
$1,451฿47.9K
36.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,668€2,299
$605฿20.0K
340.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.33
5.57
-40.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abano Terme: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Abano Terme and $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abano Terme pays 341% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Abano Terme vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $242 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
Abano Terme vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Abano Terme?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Abano Terme or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 341% higher in Abano Terme, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Abano Terme and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $661 in Abano Terme versus $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Abano Terme and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Abano Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Abano Terme or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $85.0 in Abano Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Abano Terme or in Chiang Mai?
At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $1,772 in Abano Terme, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Abano Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Abano Terme or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Abano Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Abano Terme or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Abano Terme and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Abano Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Abano Terme vs other spots: cost of living compared