ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,724 in Castrocaro Terme versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,618 in Castrocaro Terme versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,512 in Castrocaro Terme versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.
ðLiving in Castrocaro Terme is roughly 102% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Castrocaro Terme is 29% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.53âŽ15.01
$1.96āļŋ64.0
794.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7âŽ64.8
$18.81āļŋ615
302.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.42âŽ9.78
$7.92āļŋ259
44.19%
Cappuccino
$2.00âŽ1.71
$1.91āļŋ62.6
4.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94âŽ2.52
$0.84āļŋ27.41
250.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36âŽ1.16
$0.35āļŋ11.51
288.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.95âŽ5.09
$2.21āļŋ72.1
169.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13âŽ4.39
$3.80āļŋ124
35.00%
ð Groceries & Markets
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62âŽ1.39
$1.64āļŋ53.5
-1.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24âŽ1.92
$1.62āļŋ53.1
38.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.69âŽ2.30
$1.18āļŋ38.62
127.97%
Eggs
$3.94âŽ3.37
$2.01āļŋ65.8
96.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.60âŽ13.36
$15.89āļŋ520
-1.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.34âŽ10.56
$3.01āļŋ98.5
309.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.32âŽ16.54
$10.77āļŋ352
79.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37âŽ2.03
$2.61āļŋ85.5
-9.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05âŽ1.76
$1.22āļŋ39.88
68.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56âŽ2.20
$1.70āļŋ55.7
50.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17âŽ2.71
$1.58āļŋ51.5
100.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85âŽ1.58
$1.32āļŋ43.14
40.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79âŽ1.53
$1.17āļŋ38.23
52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51âŽ1.30
$0.67āļŋ21.98
125.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50âŽ0.42
$0.56āļŋ18.32
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84âŽ5.85
$4.53āļŋ148
50.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99âŽ6.84
$18.20āļŋ595
-56.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65âŽ1.41
$1.83āļŋ60.0
-9.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52âŽ2.16
$3.23āļŋ106
-21.98%
ð Getting Around
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69âŽ1.45
$0.89āļŋ29.00
89.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.07âŽ36.87
$19.38āļŋ634
122.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.86âŽ5.02
$1.35āļŋ44.20
334.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59âŽ1.36
$1.35āļŋ44.05
17.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.57âŽ29.59
$8.25āļŋ270
319.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01âŽ1.72
$1.27āļŋ41.64
58.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KâŽ28.2K
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
55.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KâŽ28.5K
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
48.29%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216âŽ185
$70.2āļŋ2,294
208.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.95âŽ11.09
$13.77āļŋ450
-5.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.33âŽ25.97
$17.60āļŋ575
72.33%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7âŽ47.66
$41.57āļŋ1,360
33.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.77âŽ19.49
$6.60āļŋ216
245.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.47âŽ8.96
$5.78āļŋ189
81.14%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$562âŽ481
$306āļŋ10.0K
83.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,948âŽ6,804
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
-46.39%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8âŽ75.2
$54.4āļŋ1,778
61.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.87âŽ32.42
$26.14āļŋ855
44.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1âŽ78.0
$84.5āļŋ2,764
7.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131âŽ112
$69.4āļŋ2,270
88.22%
ð Accommodation & Living
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750âŽ642
$424āļŋ13.9K
77.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589âŽ504
$238āļŋ7,788
147.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,209âŽ1,035
$825āļŋ27.0K
46.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$941âŽ805
$515āļŋ16.8K
82.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,067âŽ2,625
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
49.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,128âŽ1,821
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
39.72%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Castrocaro Terme
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635āļŋ20.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.45
5
-11.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castrocaro Terme: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $750 in Castrocaro Terme and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $76.0 in Castrocaro Terme vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $243 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
Castrocaro Terme vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Castrocaro Terme?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,586 in Castrocaro Terme and $1,278 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Castrocaro Terme and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $750 in Castrocaro Terme versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Castrocaro Terme and Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Castrocaro Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Castrocaro Terme or Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai â a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $76.0 in Castrocaro Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Castrocaro Terme or Chiang Mai?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,724 in Castrocaro Terme, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Castrocaro Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Castrocaro Terme or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Castrocaro Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Castrocaro Terme or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Castrocaro Terme 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet â expenses run 102% less than in Castrocaro Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Castrocaro Terme vs other spots: cost of living compared