😐A single person spends $1,670 per month in Aranjuez vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,448 per month in Aranjuez vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,226 per month in Aranjuez vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Aranjuez costs about 79% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Aranjuez sits 22% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.01€12.21
$2.08฿69.5
573.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6€60.6
$19.61฿655
254.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.58€10.96
$5.67฿189
121.87%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.45
$1.81฿60.3
55.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66€2.32
$0.77฿25.65
245.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.80
$0.35฿11.53
491.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50€3.05
$2.21฿73.9
58.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66€4.06
$3.79฿127
22.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21€1.05
$2.05฿68.4
-40.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37€1.19
$1.51฿50.6
-9.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.40฿46.69
25.00%
Eggs
$3.62€3.16
$2.26฿75.4
60.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.13€9.70
$16.19฿540
-31.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79€6.79
$2.90฿96.7
168.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.30€14.21
$9.42฿314
73.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49€2.17
$2.68฿89.4
-7.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89€1.64
$1.09฿36.37
73.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.62
$1.62฿54.0
14.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.25
$1.46฿48.74
76.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.28฿42.65
37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.06฿35.31
73.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17€1.02
$0.72฿23.94
62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.67
$0.53฿17.56
45.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08€6.17
$4.23฿141
67.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.89€5.14
$18.29฿611
-67.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$1.63฿54.4
-19.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$2.90฿96.8
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.55€1.35
$0.88฿29.32
76.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.49€25.71
$53.8฿1,795
-45.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.10
$1.17฿39.14
301.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40€1.22
$0.58฿19.30
141.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.59€21.44
$2.39฿79.6
928.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.53
$1.45฿48.41
20.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.8K
$21.0K฿701.4K
73.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K€25.9K
$26.4K฿882.0K
12.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139€121
$63.7฿2,125
118.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.90€14.73
$12.89฿430
31.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.52€30.96
$20.52฿685
73.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.16€40.23
$39.02฿1,302
18.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.17€14.96
$3.92฿131
338.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.43
$6.58฿220
64.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$594€518
$784฿26.2K
-24.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€8,956
$14.7K฿489.8K
-29.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.8€81.7
$55.1฿1,840
70.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.62€38.02
$24.74฿826
76.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.5€85.0
$94.1฿3,142
3.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$74.0฿2,469
65.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$953€831
$490฿16.4K
94.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$694€605
$288฿9,620
140.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,410€1,229
$891฿29.8K
58.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,150€1,002
$521฿17.4K
120.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,996€2,611
$1,974฿65.9K
51.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,952€1,701
$1,444฿48.2K
35.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aranjuez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.38
5.57
-39.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aranjuez: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $953 in Aranjuez versus $490 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Aranjuez versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $241 – 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
Aranjuez vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Aranjuez?
Yes – Aranjuez is pricier by about 79%, 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 $2,506 per month in Aranjuez and $1,398 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 82% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $594 per month in Aranjuez and $784 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 living in Aranjuez or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Aranjuez at $1,670. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aranjuez it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Aranjuez 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, Aranjuez 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, Aranjuez makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.