😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,749 in Amadora versus $947 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,596 in Amadora versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,443 in Amadora versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Amadora is roughly 85% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amadora is 27% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.28€11.46
$2.08฿69.2
538.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36€40.01
$19.64฿651
136.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55€8.24
$5.65฿188
69.03%
Cappuccino
$2.17€1.87
$1.81฿59.9
19.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82€1.57
$0.71฿23.66
156.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.16
$0.32฿10.48
321.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92€2.52
$2.24฿74.2
30.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.57
$3.63฿121
-17.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€0.99
$1.96฿65.0
-41.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.06
$1.50฿49.83
58.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36€1.18
$1.34฿44.32
1.49%
Eggs
$2.93€2.52
$2.26฿75.1
29.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80€10.18
$16.26฿539
-27.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38€6.37
$2.95฿98.0
150.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.54€9.96
$9.94฿330
16.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.91€1.65
$2.57฿85.3
-25.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53€1.32
$1.06฿35.04
44.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57€1.36
$1.61฿53.5
-2.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.23
$1.52฿50.4
69.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62€1.40
$1.27฿42.14
27.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$1.07฿35.37
108.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.47
$0.72฿23.89
136.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.96
$0.51฿16.87
117.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59€5.68
$4.19฿139
57.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.81
$17.87฿593
-68.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.13
$1.69฿56.2
-22.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$2.84฿94.1
-60.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.81€2.42
$0.93฿30.70
202.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.12€39.79
$53.9฿1,787
-14.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.95€3.41
$1.23฿40.95
221.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52€0.45
$0.58฿19.13
-10.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.30€14.92
$2.42฿80.4
614.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16€1.86
$1.41฿46.84
53.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.4K
$21.4K฿711.3K
64.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.9K
$27.3K฿906.7K
43.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141€122
$63.7฿2,112
122.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.07€18.19
$12.85฿426
63.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.99€40.55
$20.22฿671
132.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.85€34.39
$38.74฿1,285
2.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.65€24.72
$3.97฿132
621.66%
Cinema Ticket
$7.98€6.88
$6.74฿223
18.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$351€303
$778฿25.8K
-54.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K€11.4K
$14.6K฿484.6K
-9.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7€67.9
$54.3฿1,801
44.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.29€29.59
$25.45฿844
34.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.6
$94.3฿3,129
17.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.7€71.4
$73.4฿2,436
12.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$998€861
$490฿16.2K
103.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$860€742
$289฿9,596
197.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,427
$894฿29.6K
85.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,384€1,194
$517฿17.1K
167.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,869€3,339
$1,955฿64.9K
97.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,406€2,939
$1,477฿49.0K
130.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amadora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,520€1,312
$602฿20.0K
152.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
5.57
-24.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amadora: September 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $998 in Amadora and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amadora pays 152% 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: $46.00 in Amadora vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $240 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
Amadora vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Amadora?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Amadora or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 152% 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: $998 in Amadora versus $490 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Amadora. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Amadora or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $46.00 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 $947 in Chiang Mai versus $1,749 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 85% less than in Amadora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.