😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,877 in Amstetten versus $848 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,783 in Amstetten versus $1,331 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,690 in Amstetten versus $1,814 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Amstetten is roughly 121% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amstetten is 41% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.15€13.91
$1.96฿63.6
723.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.3€46.71
$18.39฿598
195.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68€7.47
$7.87฿256
10.29%
Cappuccino
$3.71€3.19
$1.95฿63.4
90.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.48
$0.85฿27.57
240.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.22
$0.32฿10.52
703.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.34€3.74
$2.14฿69.6
102.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46€2.98
$3.68฿120
-5.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61€1.39
$1.66฿53.9
-3.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.79
$1.56฿50.7
33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84€2.44
$1.19฿38.63
138.66%
Eggs
$5.15€4.44
$1.99฿64.7
158.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.03€15.53
$16.24฿528
11.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.92€11.99
$3.17฿103
339.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.79€17.91
$10.84฿352
91.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76€2.37
$2.65฿86.2
4.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.22฿39.67
102.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80€2.41
$1.65฿53.7
69.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.93€3.39
$1.55฿50.3
153.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.33฿43.17
51.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.21฿39.43
74.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.84€1.58
$0.68฿22.04
170.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98€0.84
$0.57฿18.38
71.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.22€6.22
$4.68฿152
54.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.37€8.07
$16.99฿552
-44.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53€1.32
$1.82฿59.3
-15.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04€1.75
$3.18฿103
-35.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.84€2.44
$0.91฿29.46
212.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.8€52.3
$18.74฿609
224.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.63€4.85
$1.41฿45.80
299.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93€1.66
$1.34฿43.52
44.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.41€30.49
$8.14฿265
335.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.49
$1.28฿41.53
35.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K€24.4K
$21.8K฿709.3K
29.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K€25.5K
$22.4K฿728.0K
32.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$377€325
$70.5฿2,291
434.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.81€17.06
$14.05฿457
41.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.70
$17.65฿574
108.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.45€40.00
$41.29฿1,342
12.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.99€22.38
$6.76฿220
284.47%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13€12.17
$5.96฿194
137.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$406€350
$303฿9,846
34.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,267€6,258
$15.0K฿486.2K
-51.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.0€84.4
$54.7฿1,778
79.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.30€33.84
$26.29฿854
49.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.0
$85.8฿2,788
17.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147€127
$69.7฿2,265
110.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$552€475
$428฿13.9K
28.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467€402
$239฿7,769
95.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880€758
$811฿26.4K
8.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$778€670
$510฿16.6K
52.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,158€2,720
$2,025฿65.8K
55.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,854€2,458
$1,502฿48.8K
90.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amstetten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,028€2,607
$623฿20.2K
386.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.91
5
-21.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amstetten: June 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $552 in Amstetten and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 386% 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: $54.0 in Amstetten vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $242 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
Amstetten vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Amstetten and Chiang Mai?
Amstetten and Chiang Mai differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($1,877 vs $848 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Amstetten or Chiang Mai?
Amstetten pays 386% 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 do apartment prices compare in Amstetten and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $552 in Amstetten versus $428 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 Amstetten and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $406 in Amstetten versus $303 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 54% higher in Amstetten. 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 $848 in Chiang Mai versus $1,877 in Amstetten, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Amstetten. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Amstetten 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 Amstetten or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Amstetten 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: Amstetten or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.