🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,702 in Abano Terme.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $2,590 in Abano Terme.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $3,477 in Abano Terme.
🙂Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 49% less than in Abano Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 35% below, Abano Terme is 27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$17.67€15.21
-89.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$74.1€63.8
-74.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$11.71€10.08
-33.22%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$1.90€1.64
2.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$3.01€2.59
-71.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$1.32€1.14
-73.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$5.95€5.12
-64.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$5.31€4.57
-29.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.59€1.37
7.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$2.20€1.90
-25.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$2.80€2.41
-59.29%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$3.94€3.39
-51.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$16.04€13.81
1.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$12.20€10.50
-74.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$19.30€16.62
-43.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$2.39€2.06
15.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$2.00€1.72
-39.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$2.66€2.29
-39.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$3.20€2.76
-50.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$1.75€1.51
-20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$1.70€1.47
-31.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$1.49€1.28
-55.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.49€0.43
8.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$6.97€6.00
-32.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$7.01€6.03
166.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.65€1.42
9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.44€2.10
32.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$1.73€1.49
-47.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$43.42€37.38
-55.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$5.64€4.85
-75.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$1.57€1.35
-17.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$34.58€29.77
-77.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$2.11€1.81
-39.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$32.9K€28.3K
-35.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$32.8K€28.2K
-32.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$214€184
-67.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$13.17€11.34
6.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$30.78€26.49
-41.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$54.2€46.66
-24.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$23.50€20.23
-70.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$10.30€8.87
-42.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$562€484
-46.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$7,974€6,865
87.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$86.6€74.5
-36.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$37.71€32.46
-29.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$93.1€80.1
-8.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$130€112
-45.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$750€646
-42.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$580€499
-59.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$1,228€1,057
-34.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$927€798
-44.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$2,491€2,145
-20.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$2,356€2,028
-37.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Abano Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$2,714€2,336
-77.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.45
12.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Abano Terme: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $750 in Abano Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abano Terme pays 339% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $74.0 in Abano Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $330 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
Chiang Mai vs Abano Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abano Terme cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Abano Terme?
On paper, Abano Terme earns 339% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Abano Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $750 in Abano Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and Abano Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Abano Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or Abano Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $74.0 in Abano Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Abano Terme?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,702 in Abano Terme, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Abano Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Abano Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Abano Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Abano Terme?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Abano Terme 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 – expenses run 96% less than in Abano Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared