ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $872 in Chiang Mai versus $1,443 in Agia Paraskevi.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Chiang Mai versus $2,223 in Agia Paraskevi.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Chiang Mai versus $3,003 in Agia Paraskevi.
ðLiving in Chiang Mai costs roughly 40% less than in Agia Paraskevi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 35% below, Agia Paraskevi is 7% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01āļŋ64.5
$13.86âŽ11.80
-85.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23āļŋ584
$58.2âŽ49.55
-68.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65āļŋ245
$9.50âŽ8.08
-19.47%
Cappuccino
$1.92āļŋ61.5
$3.97âŽ3.38
-51.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ26.97
$2.28âŽ1.94
-63.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36āļŋ11.42
$0.57âŽ0.48
-36.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19āļŋ70.2
$5.92âŽ5.03
-63.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79āļŋ121
$5.77âŽ4.91
-34.32%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ52.5
$1.71âŽ1.45
-4.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ52.0
$1.41âŽ1.20
14.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15āļŋ36.98
$2.51âŽ2.13
-54.18%
Eggs
$1.94āļŋ62.2
$4.10âŽ3.49
-52.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.94āļŋ511
$13.33âŽ11.35
19.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10āļŋ99.5
$9.85âŽ8.38
-68.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.07āļŋ355
$13.97âŽ11.89
-20.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71āļŋ86.8
$2.22âŽ1.89
22.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ37.80
$2.06âŽ1.75
-42.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71āļŋ54.7
$1.45âŽ1.23
17.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$2.04âŽ1.73
-21.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39āļŋ44.66
$1.28âŽ1.09
8.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15āļŋ36.81
$1.23âŽ1.05
-6.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71āļŋ22.83
$0.98âŽ0.83
-27.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55āļŋ17.65
$0.76âŽ0.65
-27.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57āļŋ146
$5.29âŽ4.51
-13.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.87āļŋ605
$8.54âŽ7.27
120.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$2.08âŽ1.77
-12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21āļŋ103
$2.72âŽ2.32
18.01%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88āļŋ28.24
$1.54âŽ1.31
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.89āļŋ606
$45.85âŽ39.02
-58.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41āļŋ45.30
$4.73âŽ4.02
-70.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30āļŋ41.71
$1.05âŽ0.89
23.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20āļŋ263
$13.82âŽ11.76
-40.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23āļŋ39.29
$2.06âŽ1.76
-40.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ678.9K
$31.5KâŽ26.8K
-32.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3Kāļŋ715.3K
$26.2KâŽ22.3K
-14.78%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9āļŋ2,240
$213âŽ181
-67.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07āļŋ451
$22.88âŽ19.47
-38.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70āļŋ567
$32.47âŽ27.63
-45.49%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.41āļŋ1,328
$47.78âŽ40.66
-13.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69āļŋ215
$26.53âŽ22.58
-74.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74āļŋ184
$9.27âŽ7.89
-38.08%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299āļŋ9,593
$426âŽ362
-29.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kāļŋ481.2K
$5,894âŽ5,016
154.62%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8āļŋ1,758
$88.6âŽ75.4
-38.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35āļŋ845
$39.23âŽ33.38
-32.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7āļŋ2,714
$88.2âŽ75.0
-4.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7āļŋ2,236
$107âŽ91.1
-34.84%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427āļŋ13.7K
$495âŽ421
-13.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241āļŋ7,718
$396âŽ337
-39.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811āļŋ26.0K
$777âŽ661
4.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498āļŋ16.0K
$619âŽ527
-19.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,022āļŋ64.8K
$2,753âŽ2,343
-26.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,524āļŋ48.9K
$2,852âŽ2,427
-46.57%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Agia Paraskevi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$639āļŋ20.5K
-
-
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 13, 2026
Last update for Agia Paraskevi: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $427 in Chiang Mai and $495 in Agia Paraskevi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $18 in Chiang Mai vs $58 in Agia Paraskevi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $280 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 Agia Paraskevi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Agia Paraskevi?
Chiang Mai wins on cost â living expenses run 65% lower than in Agia Paraskevi. 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 Chiang Mai vs Agia Paraskevi?
You'd need roughly $1,308 in Chiang Mai and $2,164 in Agia Paraskevi 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 Chiang Mai vs Agia Paraskevi?
Rent for a central apartment: $427 in Chiang Mai versus $495 in Agia Paraskevi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai vs Agia Paraskevi?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 143% less than in Agia Paraskevi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Agia Paraskevi?
Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $426 in Agia Paraskevi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Agia Paraskevi?
At $872 in Chiang Mai versus $1,443 in Agia Paraskevi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Agia Paraskevi. 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 Agia Paraskevi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $872 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 Agia Paraskevi?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Agia Paraskevi 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 65% less than in Agia Paraskevi. 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