Cost of Living Comparison Between Atenas and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Atenas and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,439 per month in Atenas vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,538 per month in Atenas vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,638 per month in Atenas vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Atenas costs about 54% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Atenas sits 5% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 ₡4,508

$2.08 ฿69.5

387.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₡25.2K

$19.61 ฿655

189.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 ₡5,072

$5.67 ฿189

101.23%

Cappuccino

$3.78 ₡1,679

$1.81 ฿60.3

108.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,158

$0.77 ฿25.65

238.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₡840

$0.35 ฿11.53

440.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 ₡1,490

$2.21 ฿73.9

51.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 ₡2,002

$3.79 ฿127

18.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 ₡1,098

$2.05 ฿68.4

20.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 ₡1,363

$1.51 ฿50.6

103.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡967

$1.40 ฿46.69

55.00%

Eggs

$3.50 ₡1,555

$2.26 ฿75.4

54.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 ₡4,782

$16.19 ฿540

-33.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 ₡4,407

$2.90 ฿96.7

241.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 ₡4,547

$9.42 ฿314

8.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₡2,002

$2.68 ฿89.4

68.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₡731

$1.09 ฿36.37

50.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ₡1,161

$1.62 ฿54.0

61.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,076

$1.46 ฿48.74

65.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 ₡1,663

$1.28 ฿42.65

192.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₡1,162

$1.06 ฿35.31

147.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡479

$0.72 ฿23.94

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.23 ₡1,437

$0.53 ฿17.56

509.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.13 ₡2,725

$4.23 ฿141

44.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 ₡8,437

$18.29 ฿611

3.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₡1,226

$1.63 ฿54.4

69.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,182

$2.90 ฿96.8

-8.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.20 ₡980

$0.88 ฿29.32

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₡1,106

$1.17 ฿39.14

112.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡697

$0.58 ฿19.30

170.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.06 ₡4,027

$2.39 ฿79.6

279.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ₡685

$1.45 ฿48.41

6.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.1K ₡9.8M

$21.0K ฿701.4K

5.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.0K ₡15.5M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

32.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$97.8 ₡43.5K

$63.7 ฿2,125

53.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.58 ₡16.3K

$12.89 ฿430

183.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 ₡23.1K

$20.52 ฿685

153.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.53 ₡21.6K

$39.02 ฿1,302

24.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.15 ₡4,955

$3.92 ฿131

184.44%

Cinema Ticket

$8.56 ₡3,803

$6.58 ฿220

30.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$985 ₡437.8K

$784 ฿26.2K

25.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,678 ₡3.0M

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-54.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.5 ₡32.2K

$55.1 ฿1,840

31.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.8 ₡24.4K

$24.74 ฿826

121.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡56.9K

$94.1 ฿3,142

36.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₡59.1K

$74.0 ฿2,469

79.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 ₡272.0K

$490 ฿16.4K

24.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 ₡200.7K

$288 ฿9,620

56.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,513 ₡672.3K

$891 ฿29.8K

69.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 ₡577.5K

$521 ฿17.4K

149.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,350 ₡600.1K

$602 ฿20.1K

124.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

5.57

57.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Atenas: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $612 in Atenas 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.

Salaries run about 124% higher in Atenas, 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 $57.0 in Atenas versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 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

Atenas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Atenas is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Atenas and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Atenas and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Atenas, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Atenas at $1,439. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atenas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atenas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.