😐A single person spends $1,746 per month in Amalfi vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,660 per month in Amalfi vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,573 per month in Amalfi vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Amalfi costs about 102% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Amalfi sits 30% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13€14.74
$1.94฿63.5
782.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.7€66.0
$18.64฿609
311.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59€9.98
$7.82฿255
48.21%
Cappuccino
$2.00€1.72
$1.95฿63.8
2.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95€2.54
$0.85฿27.77
247.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.17
$0.35฿11.58
288.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.74€4.94
$2.13฿69.6
169.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16€4.44
$3.73฿122
38.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62€1.40
$1.71฿56.0
-5.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26€1.94
$1.63฿53.2
38.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81€2.42
$1.14฿37.15
146.49%
Eggs
$4.07€3.51
$1.93฿63.1
110.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.55€13.39
$16.21฿530
-4.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.38€10.66
$3.12฿102
296.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.44€16.74
$10.90฿356
78.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.07
$2.75฿90.0
-12.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.21฿39.52
63.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$1.62฿53.0
63.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.23€2.78
$1.59฿51.8
103.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.58
$1.40฿45.70
30.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.17฿38.17
44.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$0.66฿21.60
122.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49€0.42
$0.53฿17.22
-7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.14
$4.69฿153
52.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.18€5.32
$18.66฿609
-66.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.48
$1.80฿58.8
-5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43€2.09
$3.23฿106
-24.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.52
$0.90฿29.26
96.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.88€37.78
$19.21฿628
128.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.71€4.91
$1.41฿45.91
304.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58€1.36
$1.29฿42.12
22.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.14€30.25
$7.84฿256
348.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.83
$1.27฿41.58
67.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$21.3K฿694.9K
53.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K€27.8K
$22.2K฿725.4K
45.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218€188
$69.1฿2,256
215.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12€11.30
$14.08฿460
-6.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.14€26.81
$18.00฿588
73.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.1€47.47
$41.06฿1,341
34.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.26€20.02
$6.96฿227
234.20%
Cinema Ticket
$10.54€9.07
$5.92฿193
78.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$547€471
$299฿9,766
82.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,936€6,832
$15.0K฿488.3K
-46.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.2€75.1
$54.7฿1,787
59.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.62€33.25
$26.77฿874
44.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.8€79.9
$85.0฿2,776
9.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€110
$70.6฿2,306
80.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$749€645
$428฿14.0K
74.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585€503
$237฿7,752
146.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234€1,062
$801฿26.2K
53.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921€793
$515฿16.8K
78.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,008€2,589
$1,975฿64.5K
52.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,059€1,772
$1,475฿48.2K
39.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amalfi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,761€1,516
$617฿20.2K
185.22%
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 Amalfi: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $749 in Amalfi versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 185% higher in Amalfi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Amalfi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Amalfi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Amalfi?
Yes – Amalfi is pricier by about 102%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,619 per month in Amalfi and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Amalfi or Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Amalfi and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Amalfi vs Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,746 in Amalfi and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Amalfi or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Amalfi at $1,746. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amalfi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Amalfi or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Amalfi or Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amalfi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.