ðA single person spends $1,708 per month in Ancona vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,580 per month in Ancona vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,451 per month in Ancona vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðAncona costs about 100% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðAncona sits 28% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31âŽ16.53
$1.96āļŋ64.0
885.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3âŽ69.6
$18.81āļŋ615
332.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41âŽ9.77
$7.92āļŋ259
44.07%
Cappuccino
$2.07âŽ1.77
$1.91āļŋ62.6
8.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69âŽ2.30
$0.84āļŋ27.41
220.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43âŽ1.22
$0.35āļŋ11.51
308.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91âŽ5.06
$2.21āļŋ72.1
167.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96âŽ5.10
$3.80āļŋ124
56.84%
ð Groceries & Markets
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18âŽ1.01
$1.64āļŋ53.5
-28.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45âŽ2.10
$1.62āļŋ53.1
51.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20âŽ1.88
$1.18āļŋ38.62
86.44%
Eggs
$2.89âŽ2.48
$2.01āļŋ65.8
43.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.69âŽ13.43
$15.89āļŋ520
-1.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.21âŽ9.59
$3.01āļŋ98.5
272.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.74âŽ18.61
$10.77āļŋ352
101.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41âŽ2.06
$2.61āļŋ85.5
-7.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56âŽ1.33
$1.22āļŋ39.88
27.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56âŽ2.20
$1.70āļŋ55.7
50.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06âŽ2.62
$1.58āļŋ51.5
93.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61âŽ1.38
$1.32āļŋ43.14
21.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73âŽ1.48
$1.17āļŋ38.23
47.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51âŽ1.29
$0.67āļŋ21.98
125.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52âŽ0.44
$0.56āļŋ18.32
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11âŽ6.09
$4.53āļŋ148
56.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.90âŽ5.05
$18.20āļŋ595
-67.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61âŽ1.38
$1.83āļŋ60.0
-12.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19âŽ1.87
$3.23āļŋ106
-32.20%
ð Getting Around
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70âŽ1.45
$0.89āļŋ29.00
91.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.84âŽ34.10
$19.38āļŋ634
105.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.65âŽ4.84
$1.35āļŋ44.20
318.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57âŽ1.35
$1.35āļŋ44.05
16.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.40âŽ25.17
$8.25āļŋ270
256.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02âŽ1.73
$1.27āļŋ41.64
59.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KâŽ23.6K
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
30.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KâŽ23.4K
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
21.63%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$284âŽ243
$70.2āļŋ2,294
304.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.71âŽ12.59
$13.77āļŋ450
6.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18âŽ31.83
$17.60āļŋ575
111.25%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.1âŽ56.6
$41.57āļŋ1,360
59.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.07âŽ17.18
$6.60āļŋ216
204.09%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64âŽ9.96
$5.78āļŋ189
101.38%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$296âŽ253
$306āļŋ10.0K
-3.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,953âŽ6,808
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
-46.35%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2âŽ76.4
$54.4āļŋ1,778
64.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.69âŽ27.98
$26.14āļŋ855
25.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.4âŽ78.2
$84.5āļŋ2,764
8.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119âŽ102
$69.4āļŋ2,270
70.96%
ð Accommodation & Living
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$600âŽ514
$424āļŋ13.9K
41.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477âŽ408
$238āļŋ7,788
100.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$941âŽ806
$825āļŋ27.0K
14.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709âŽ607
$515āļŋ16.8K
37.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,283âŽ2,810
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
60.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,061âŽ1,765
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
35.37%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Ancona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,795âŽ1,536
$635āļŋ20.8K
182.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.9
5
-22.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ancona: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $600 in Ancona versus $424 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.
ð°Salaries run about 183% higher in Ancona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Ancona versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $243 â 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
Ancona vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Ancona?
Yes â Ancona is pricier by about 100%, 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 $2,563 per month in Ancona and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 106% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $296 per month in Ancona and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ancona or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Ancona at $1,708. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ancona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ancona or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ancona 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 â 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, Ancona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.