😐A single person spends $1,482 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Castello de la Plana costs about 72% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Castello de la Plana sits 11% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.28€13.37
$1.96฿65.9
679.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€51.3
$18.35฿617
219.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.24€7.21
$7.48฿252
10.16%
Cappuccino
$2.53€2.21
$2.02฿67.8
25.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.97
$0.85฿28.52
164.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.51
$0.36฿11.97
377.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92€2.56
$2.14฿71.9
36.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.09
$3.59฿121
-1.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.99
$1.65฿55.5
-31.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10€1.84
$1.57฿52.7
33.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01€1.75
$1.19฿40.05
68.91%
Eggs
$3.11€2.72
$1.94฿65.1
60.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.77€12.92
$16.19฿545
-8.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43€7.38
$2.99฿101
181.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.86
$10.94฿368
44.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48€2.17
$2.71฿91.2
-8.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.51
$1.17฿39.27
47.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63€1.43
$1.69฿56.8
-3.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$1.60฿54.0
54.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.88€1.65
$1.38฿46.56
36.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$1.20฿40.47
50.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.29
$0.67฿22.51
119.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64€0.56
$0.56฿18.74
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.93€6.06
$4.64฿156
49.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.63€4.05
$17.62฿593
-73.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06€0.92
$1.86฿62.6
-43.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38€2.08
$3.30฿111
-27.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.23
$0.88฿29.70
60.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.44€15.26
$19.34฿651
-9.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.50€3.93
$1.36฿45.92
230.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00€0.87
$1.34฿45.00
-25.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.28€13.37
$8.21฿276
86.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.58
$1.22฿41.20
48.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€34.0K
$21.4K฿718.5K
81.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.9K
$22.5K฿758.1K
46.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135€118
$70.7฿2,378
90.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.26€16.85
$14.04฿472
37.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.92€24.43
$17.49฿589
59.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.09€40.33
$42.15฿1,418
9.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.95€13.08
$6.88฿231
117.30%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02€7.02
$5.92฿199
35.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577€505
$309฿10.4K
87.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,175€7,152
$14.9K฿500.7K
-45.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.7€58.4
$55.8฿1,876
19.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.06€19.30
$26.11฿879
-15.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.8
$83.0฿2,793
26.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$70.5฿2,371
64.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$737€645
$432฿14.5K
70.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$616€539
$239฿8,040
157.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012€885
$822฿27.7K
23.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$786€688
$512฿17.2K
53.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,831€1,602
$1,915฿64.4K
-4.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,424€1,246
$1,467฿49.4K
-2.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castello de la Plana
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,829€1,600
$579฿19.5K
215.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
5
-36.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castello de la Plana: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Castello de la Plana versus $432 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 216% higher in Castello de la Plana, 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 $59.0 in Castello de la Plana versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $243 – 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
Castello de la Plana vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Castello de la Plana and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,482 in Castello de la Plana, $861 in Chiang Mai – roughly 72% apart. Castello de la Plana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Castello de la Plana compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,223 per month in Castello de la Plana and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Castello de la Plana and Chiang Mai?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Castello de la Plana and in Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Castello de la Plana and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Castello de la Plana and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Castello de la Plana at $1,482. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castello de la Plana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Castello de la Plana and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $861 in Chiang Mai to $1,482 in Castello de la Plana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Castello de la Plana or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Castello de la Plana and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castello de la Plana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Castello de la Plana vs other spots: cost of living compared