😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,490 in Aegina versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,236 in Aegina versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,981 in Aegina versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Aegina is roughly 71% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aegina is 11% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.04€12.09
$1.98฿64.3
609.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€50.5
$18.80฿612
211.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.97€8.59
$7.75฿252
28.65%
Cappuccino
$4.00€3.44
$1.92฿62.5
108.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.90
$0.79฿25.79
178.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.36฿11.62
55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.81€5.01
$2.21฿72.1
162.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68€4.89
$3.66฿119
55.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68€1.44
$1.65฿53.8
1.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.28
$1.63฿53.2
-9.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43€2.09
$1.19฿38.86
104.20%
Eggs
$4.23€3.65
$2.00฿65.1
111.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50€11.63
$15.98฿520
-15.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.59€8.27
$3.03฿98.5
216.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.10€12.15
$10.86฿354
29.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$2.76฿90.0
-21.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$1.18฿38.42
80.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44€1.24
$1.64฿53.5
-12.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$1.52฿49.51
34.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28€1.10
$1.38฿45.10
-7.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20€1.04
$1.19฿38.84
0.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01€0.87
$0.70฿22.86
44.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.56฿18.13
32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44€4.69
$4.58฿149
18.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.51€5.61
$16.56฿539
-60.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.81
$1.83฿59.5
14.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.31
$3.20฿104
-16.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58€1.36
$0.88฿28.56
79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.17
$18.72฿610
149.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.56€3.93
$1.36฿44.16
235.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.91
$1.34฿43.65
-20.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.49€11.62
$7.84฿256
72.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.79
$1.23฿39.92
69.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K€26.5K
$21.6K฿704.3K
42.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K€23.1K
$22.5K฿734.3K
18.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$277€238
$70.5฿2,298
292.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.97€19.79
$13.68฿445
67.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.16€28.57
$17.45฿568
90.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.27€40.73
$41.33฿1,346
14.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.77€22.20
$6.96฿227
270.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.53€8.21
$5.77฿188
65.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$430€371
$307฿10.0K
40.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,053€5,215
$14.6K฿475.9K
-58.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€76.1
$55.8฿1,817
58.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.56€33.22
$26.21฿854
47.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2€75.2
$85.8฿2,793
1.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€91.3
$72.2฿2,353
46.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491€423
$430฿14.0K
14.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389€335
$239฿7,774
63.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$768€662
$817฿26.6K
-6.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$609€524
$511฿16.6K
19.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,843€2,449
$1,983฿64.6K
43.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,286€1,970
$1,484฿48.3K
54.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aegina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,172€1,010
$619฿20.2K
89.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.43
5
-11.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aegina: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Aegina and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aegina pays 89% 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: $59.0 in Aegina vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $241 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
Aegina vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aegina or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Aegina. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Aegina or Chiang Mai?
Aegina pays 89% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Aegina vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $491 in Aegina versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Aegina vs Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $59.0 in Aegina. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Aegina compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $1,490 per month in Aegina versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Aegina or Chiang Mai?
At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,490 in Aegina, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aegina. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aegina or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $869 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Aegina compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Aegina 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Aegina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.