Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Benevento

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,555 in Benevento, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Benevento, Italy
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Benevento
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,555
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Benevento

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Benevento actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,555 in Benevento, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Benevento $1,555

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,341 in Benevento, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Benevento $2,341

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,127 in Benevento, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Benevento $3,127

Chiang Mai is about 40% cheaper than Benevento, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Benevento is 14% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.5
$14.24 €12.76
-84.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿640
$65.9 €59.1
-71.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$10.99 €9.85
-49.50%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.4
$1.95 €1.74
-14.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.51
$2.68 €2.40
-76.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.29
$1.15 €1.03
-73.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$4.50 €4.03
-47.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿123
$3.32 €2.97
10.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.55 €1.39
25.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.41
$1.79 €1.60
-19.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.97
$2.78 €2.50
-52.16%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$3.70 €3.32
-38.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿554
$14.25 €12.77
15.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$13.38 €11.99
-79.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$23.87 €21.39
-61.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.3
$2.49 €2.23
-5.62%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.75
$2.27 €2.03
-57.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.8
$2.54 €2.28
-37.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.43 €2.18
-38.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.06
$1.70 €1.52
-24.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.14
$1.71 €1.53
-35.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.79
$0.98 €0.88
-27.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.34
$0.33 €0.29
48.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$6.59 €5.90
-37.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿590
$6.89 €6.18
154.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.4
$1.90 €1.71
-15.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$2.49 €2.23
11.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.27
$1.43 €1.28
-39.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,823
$38.72 €34.70
39.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.00
$5.15 €4.61
-77.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.78
$1.76 €1.58
-69.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$22.63 €20.28
-89.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.82
$2.00 €1.79
-27.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿709.7K
$31.2K €28.0K
-32.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.9K
$34.2K €30.7K
-21.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,095
$216 €194
-71.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$10.23 €9.17
18.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿678
$31.11 €27.88
-35.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,257
$40.25 €36.07
-7.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$28.02 €25.11
-86.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$8.00 €7.17
-18.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$209 €187
252.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿497.6K
$3,411 €3,056
332.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,799
$107 €96.2
-50.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿830
$35.61 €31.91
-30.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,083
$84.2 €75.5
8.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,424
$118 €106
-39.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$518 €464
-6.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$479 €429
-35.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$829 €743
21.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.3K
$697 €624
-9.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.6K
$1,277 €1,144
85.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,060 €949
49.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Benevento
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$1,101 €986
-46.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.13
77.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Benevento: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Benevento
$479 54.9% $170
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Benevento
$334 42.3% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Benevento
$155 43.1% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Benevento
$258 173% $163
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Benevento
$215 177% $137
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Benevento
$58 4.9% $3
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Benevento
$56 11.9% $6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $518 in Benevento. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 87% higher in Benevento. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $66 in Benevento. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $334 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇹 Benevento
🕒 Local time
11:26 11:26 AM
05:26 5:26 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
60,091
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Benevento 8,170 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Benevento

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Benevento: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Benevento compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $936 in Chiang Mai, $1,555 in Benevento – Chiang Mai comes out roughly 40% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Benevento?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,332 in Benevento. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Benevento?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $518 in Benevento. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Benevento?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,555 in Benevento. That makes Chiang Mai about 40% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Benevento?
Public transport costs about 28% less in Benevento. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,555 in Benevento. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Benevento?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,555 in Benevento. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Benevento safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Benevento?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Benevento makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?