ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,513 in Aegina.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $2,264 in Aegina.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $3,016 in Aegina.
ðLiving in Chiang Mai costs roughly 44% less than in Aegina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Aegina is 13% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ63.6
$13.63âŽ11.64
-85.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ611
$57.5âŽ49.12
-67.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ258
$9.65âŽ8.24
-17.93%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.2
$4.09âŽ3.49
-53.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.25
$2.21âŽ1.88
-61.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.44
$0.56âŽ0.48
-37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ71.7
$5.63âŽ4.81
-60.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$5.62âŽ4.80
-32.38%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.2
$1.67âŽ1.42
-1.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ52.8
$1.46âŽ1.25
10.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.40
$2.40âŽ2.05
-50.83%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.4
$4.23âŽ3.61
-52.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ517
$13.56âŽ11.58
17.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.0
$9.91âŽ8.46
-69.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ350
$13.82âŽ11.80
-22.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.0
$2.15âŽ1.83
21.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.65
$2.13âŽ1.82
-42.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.4
$1.51âŽ1.29
12.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.2
$2.04âŽ1.74
-22.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ42.89
$1.26âŽ1.07
4.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.01
$1.21âŽ1.03
-3.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.85
$0.99âŽ0.84
-32.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.21
$0.77âŽ0.66
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ147
$5.36âŽ4.58
-15.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ592
$7.13âŽ6.09
155.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ59.6
$2.00âŽ1.71
-8.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ105
$2.72âŽ2.33
18.75%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ28.83
$1.57âŽ1.34
-43.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ630
$46.60âŽ39.79
-58.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ43.95
$4.77âŽ4.07
-71.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ43.79
$1.05âŽ0.90
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ268
$13.65âŽ11.66
-39.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.40
$2.15âŽ1.84
-40.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ687.8K
$31.3KâŽ26.7K
-32.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ731.0K
$26.1KâŽ22.3K
-13.93%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,281
$279âŽ238
-74.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ448
$23.56âŽ20.12
-41.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ572
$32.66âŽ27.89
-46.11%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,352
$48.38âŽ41.32
-14.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ215
$26.41âŽ22.55
-75.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ188
$9.40âŽ8.03
-38.51%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ9,953
$424âŽ362
-27.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ482.0K
$5,949âŽ5,081
149.19%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,768
$88.6âŽ75.6
-38.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ850
$39.34âŽ33.59
-33.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,748
$87.8âŽ75.0
-3.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,257
$105âŽ89.7
-33.91%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.8K
$493âŽ421
-14.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,743
$389âŽ332
-38.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ26.8K
$761âŽ650
8.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.7K
$625âŽ534
-17.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ66.6K
$3,110âŽ2,656
-34.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.5K
$2,557âŽ2,184
-40.45%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Aegina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.6K
$1,152âŽ984
-44.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.43
12.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Aegina: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $493 in Aegina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Aegina pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $58.0 in Aegina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $278 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 Aegina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Aegina?
Chiang Mai wins on cost â living expenses run 78% lower than in Aegina. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chiang Mai or Aegina?
On paper, Aegina earns 81% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai vs Aegina?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $493 in Aegina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Aegina?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai â a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $58.0 in Aegina. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Aegina?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,513 in Aegina â a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Aegina?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,513 in Aegina, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aegina. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Aegina?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $852 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Aegina?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Aegina 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 â expenses run 78% less than in Aegina. 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