😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Alessandria versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,526 in Alessandria versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,331 in Alessandria versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Alessandria is roughly 100% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Alessandria is 29% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.24€13.35
$1.96฿65.8
677.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7€56.6
$18.35฿617
252.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.20
$7.48฿252
55.75%
Cappuccino
$1.83€1.61
$2.02฿67.8
-9.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11€2.72
$0.85฿28.50
265.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.13
$0.36฿11.96
258.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.68€4.10
$2.14฿71.8
118.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.59฿121
30.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84€1.61
$1.65฿55.5
11.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41€2.11
$1.57฿52.7
53.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.65€2.32
$1.19฿40.02
122.69%
Eggs
$3.90€3.42
$1.94฿65.1
101.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.32€16.05
$16.19฿544
13.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91€9.56
$2.99฿101
264.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.68€15.48
$10.94฿368
61.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.30
$2.71฿91.2
-3.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94€1.70
$1.17฿39.25
65.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91€2.55
$1.69฿56.7
72.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.87€2.51
$1.60฿54.0
79.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60€1.40
$1.38฿46.54
15.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$1.20฿40.45
40.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63€1.43
$0.67฿22.50
143.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49€0.43
$0.56฿18.73
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96€6.10
$4.64฿156
50.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.47€3.92
$17.62฿593
-74.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.39
$1.86฿62.5
-15.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.18
$3.30฿111
-24.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.18€1.91
$0.88฿29.68
147.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.2€70.2
$19.34฿650
314.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.91€6.93
$1.36฿45.90
481.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10€1.84
$1.34฿44.98
56.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.31€34.42
$8.21฿276
378.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.22฿41.18
70.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K€29.4K
$21.4K฿718.1K
56.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K€30.8K
$22.5K฿757.7K
56.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221€194
$70.7฿2,376
212.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.78€10.32
$14.04฿472
-16.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.05€27.20
$17.49฿588
77.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.32€40.56
$42.15฿1,417
9.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.55€10.11
$6.88฿231
67.88%
Cinema Ticket
$10.53€9.22
$5.92฿199
77.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$569€498
$309฿10.4K
84.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,071€6,193
$14.9K฿500.4K
-52.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100€87.8
$55.8฿1,875
79.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6€47.78
$26.11฿878
108.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.6€85.5
$83.0฿2,792
17.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168€147
$70.5฿2,369
138.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$611€535
$432฿14.5K
41.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$536€469
$239฿8,035
124.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€749
$822฿27.7K
4.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$685€600
$512฿17.2K
33.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,279€1,996
$1,915฿64.4K
19.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,607€1,407
$1,467฿49.3K
9.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alessandria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,853€1,622
$579฿19.5K
219.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
5
-35.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alessandria: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $611 in Alessandria and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alessandria pays 220% 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: $65.0 in Alessandria vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $243 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
Alessandria vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alessandria and in Chiang Mai?
Alessandria and Chiang Mai differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,720 vs $861 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Alessandria or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 220% higher in Alessandria, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Alessandria and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $611 in Alessandria versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Alessandria and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $569 in Alessandria versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Alessandria. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,720 in Alessandria, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Alessandria. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Alessandria and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Alessandria or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Alessandria 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.
Where should expats move: Alessandria or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Alessandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alessandria vs other spots: cost of living compared