😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,555 in Cavtat versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Cavtat versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,098 in Cavtat versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Cavtat is roughly 81% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cavtat is 16% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.43€11.75
$1.96฿65.9
585.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.5€63.4
$18.35฿617
295.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43€8.25
$7.48฿252
26.07%
Cappuccino
$2.50€2.19
$2.02฿67.8
23.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.81
$0.85฿28.52
277.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.07
$0.36฿11.97
555.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50€3.06
$2.14฿71.9
63.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27€3.74
$3.59฿121
18.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.04
$1.65฿55.5
-27.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57€1.38
$1.57฿52.7
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.10€2.72
$1.19฿40.05
160.50%
Eggs
$3.69€3.23
$1.94฿65.1
90.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.55€9.23
$16.19฿545
-34.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.51€8.32
$2.99฿101
218.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.09€10.58
$10.94฿368
10.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$2.71฿91.2
-37.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.17฿39.27
45.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.75
$1.69฿56.8
18.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.15
$1.60฿54.0
53.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32€1.16
$1.38฿46.56
-4.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25€1.10
$1.20฿40.47
4.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20€1.05
$0.67฿22.51
79.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.11
$0.56฿18.74
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.80€5.07
$4.64฿156
25.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.68€5.85
$17.62฿593
-62.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45€1.27
$1.86฿62.6
-22.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.81
$3.30฿111
-37.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.80€1.58
$0.88฿29.70
104.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.05€37.67
$19.34฿651
122.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.15€2.76
$1.36฿45.92
131.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05€0.92
$1.34฿45.00
-21.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.02€7.89
$8.21฿276
9.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.55
$1.22฿41.20
45.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.8K
$21.4K฿718.5K
75.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K€22.9K
$22.5K฿758.1K
15.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186€162
$70.7฿2,378
162.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19€20.29
$14.04฿472
65.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.02€28.02
$17.49฿589
83.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.5€45.04
$42.15฿1,418
22.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48€12.67
$6.88฿231
110.47%
Cinema Ticket
$8.88€7.76
$5.92฿199
50.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246€215
$309฿10.4K
-20.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,978€6,980
$14.9K฿500.7K
-46.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9€82.1
$55.8฿1,876
68.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.29€33.50
$26.11฿879
46.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.2
$83.0฿2,793
25.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€90.4
$70.5฿2,371
46.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$683€598
$432฿14.5K
58.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$540€472
$239฿8,040
125.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,109€970
$822฿27.7K
34.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$848€742
$512฿17.2K
65.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,132€3,615
$1,915฿64.4K
115.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,215€2,813
$1,467฿49.4K
119.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cavtat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
5
-13.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cavtat: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $683 in Cavtat and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Cavtat vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 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
Cavtat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cavtat or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Cavtat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cavtat and in Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $2,333 in Cavtat and $1,292 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cavtat compared to Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $683 in Cavtat versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Cavtat and in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $73.0 in Cavtat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Cavtat compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $1,555 per month in Cavtat versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cavtat or in Chiang Mai?
At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,555 in Cavtat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Cavtat. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cavtat or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Cavtat compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Cavtat 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Cavtat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.