😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,702 in Abano Terme versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,590 in Abano Terme versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,477 in Abano Terme versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Abano Terme is roughly 96% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Abano Terme is 27% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67€15.21
$1.94฿63.5
810.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.1€63.8
$18.64฿609
297.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.71€10.08
$7.82฿255
49.74%
Cappuccino
$1.90€1.64
$1.95฿63.8
-2.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.59
$0.85฿27.77
254.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.14
$0.35฿11.58
277.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.95€5.12
$2.13฿69.6
179.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31€4.57
$3.73฿122
42.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59€1.37
$1.71฿56.0
-7.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20€1.90
$1.63฿53.2
34.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80€2.41
$1.14฿37.15
145.61%
Eggs
$3.94€3.39
$1.93฿63.1
104.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04€13.81
$16.21฿530
-1.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20€10.50
$3.12฿102
291.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.30€16.62
$10.90฿356
77.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.06
$2.75฿90.0
-13.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.21฿39.52
65.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66€2.29
$1.62฿53.0
64.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20€2.76
$1.59฿51.8
101.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75€1.51
$1.40฿45.70
25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.17฿38.17
45.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.28
$0.66฿21.60
125.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49€0.43
$0.53฿17.22
-7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97€6.00
$4.69฿153
48.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01€6.03
$18.66฿609
-62.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$1.80฿58.8
-8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.10
$3.23฿106
-24.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73€1.49
$0.90฿29.26
92.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.42€37.38
$19.21฿628
126.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.64€4.85
$1.41฿45.91
300.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57€1.35
$1.29฿42.12
21.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.58€29.77
$7.84฿256
341.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.81
$1.27฿41.58
66.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K€28.3K
$21.3K฿694.9K
54.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K€28.2K
$22.2K฿725.4K
47.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214€184
$69.1฿2,256
209.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.17€11.34
$14.08฿460
-6.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.78€26.49
$18.00฿588
71.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2€46.66
$41.06฿1,341
32.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.50€20.23
$6.96฿227
237.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.30€8.87
$5.92฿193
73.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$562€484
$299฿9,766
88.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,974€6,865
$15.0K฿488.3K
-46.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6€74.5
$54.7฿1,787
58.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.71€32.46
$26.77฿874
40.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.1€80.1
$85.0฿2,776
9.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€112
$70.6฿2,306
83.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750€646
$428฿14.0K
75.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580€499
$237฿7,752
144.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,057
$801฿26.2K
53.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$927€798
$515฿16.8K
79.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,491€2,145
$1,975฿64.5K
26.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,356€2,028
$1,475฿48.2K
59.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abano Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,714€2,336
$617฿20.2K
339.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.45
5
-11.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abano Terme: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $750 in Abano Terme and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abano Terme pays 339% 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: $74.0 in Abano Terme vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $246 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, Getting Around. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Abano Terme or Chiang Mai?
Abano Terme pays 339% more on average, 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: $750 in Abano Terme versus $428 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 Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% 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 Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $74.0 in Abano Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Abano Terme or Chiang Mai?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,702 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 96% 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