😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,741 in Amadora versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,544 in Amadora versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,347 in Amadora versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Amadora is roughly 102% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amadora is 30% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.65€10.19
$1.96฿65.9
494.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.45€39.76
$18.35฿617
147.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.02€7.89
$7.48฿252
20.59%
Cappuccino
$1.96€1.71
$2.02฿67.8
-2.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.75
$0.85฿28.52
134.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48€1.29
$0.36฿11.97
311.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37€2.07
$2.14฿71.9
10.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41€2.98
$3.59฿121
-5.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.65฿55.5
-34.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.41
$1.57฿52.7
2.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42€1.24
$1.19฿40.05
19.33%
Eggs
$2.95€2.58
$1.94฿65.1
52.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.41€9.98
$16.19฿545
-29.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.02€6.14
$2.99฿101
134.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.61€10.16
$10.94฿368
6.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99€1.74
$2.71฿91.2
-26.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.17฿39.27
45.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60€1.40
$1.69฿56.8
-5.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.32
$1.60฿54.0
65.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53€1.34
$1.38฿46.56
10.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.20฿40.47
54.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.45
$0.67฿22.51
146.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40€0.35
$0.56฿18.74
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40€5.60
$4.64฿156
37.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.54€4.84
$17.62฿593
-68.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27€1.11
$1.86฿62.6
-31.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.03
$3.30฿111
-64.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.96€2.59
$0.88฿29.70
236.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.58€40.76
$19.34฿651
140.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.14€3.62
$1.36฿45.92
204.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.34฿45.00
-39.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.32€15.15
$8.21฿276
110.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.73
$1.22฿41.20
62.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K€20.0K
$21.4K฿718.5K
7.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$22.5K฿758.1K
75.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$168€147
$70.7฿2,378
138.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.80€19.07
$14.04฿472
55.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.25€25.59
$17.49฿589
67.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.89€34.90
$42.15฿1,418
-5.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.62€25.04
$6.88฿231
315.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34€7.30
$5.92฿199
40.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350€306
$309฿10.4K
13.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.1K€11.4K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-12.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8€60.2
$55.8฿1,876
23.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.00€30.62
$26.11฿879
34.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2€86.8
$83.0฿2,793
19.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4€69.5
$70.5฿2,371
12.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$972€851
$432฿14.5K
125.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$881€771
$239฿8,040
268.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,668€1,459
$822฿27.7K
102.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,377€1,205
$512฿17.2K
169.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,743€3,275
$1,915฿64.4K
95.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,402€2,976
$1,467฿49.4K
131.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,490€1,304
$579฿19.5K
157.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
5
8.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amadora: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $972 in Amadora and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amadora pays 157% 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: $45.00 in Amadora vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $243, with Amadora cheaper for home cooking.
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
Amadora vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Amadora?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Amadora or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 157% higher in Amadora, 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 Amadora and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $972 in Amadora versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Amadora and in Chiang Mai?
Shoppers in Amadora pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Amadora or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $45.00 in Amadora. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Amadora or in Chiang Mai?
At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,741 in Amadora, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Amadora. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Amadora or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Amadora, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Amadora or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Amadora 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 102% less than in Amadora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.