Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Castrocaro Terme

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,623 in Castrocaro Terme, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Castrocaro Terme, Italy
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Castrocaro Terme
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,623
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Castrocaro Terme

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 Castrocaro Terme actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Chiang Mai versus $1,623 in Castrocaro Terme.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Castrocaro Terme $1,623

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,457 in Chiang Mai versus $2,473 in Castrocaro Terme.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Castrocaro Terme $2,473

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,979 in Chiang Mai versus $3,323 in Castrocaro Terme.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Castrocaro Terme $3,323

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 42% less than in Castrocaro Terme, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 31% below, Castrocaro Terme is 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$14.90 €13.35
-84.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$67.7 €60.7
-71.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$11.10 €9.95
-50.00%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.67 €1.49
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$3.42 €3.06
-81.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$1.60 €1.44
-80.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$5.15 €4.62
-54.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$5.45 €4.89
-32.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.77 €1.59
10.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$1.97 €1.76
-26.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$2.41 €2.16
-44.81%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$4.05 €3.63
-43.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$16.47 €14.76
-0.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$10.83 €9.71
-74.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$20.20 €18.10
-53.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.35 €2.10
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$2.14 €1.91
-54.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.84 €2.55
-43.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.98 €2.67
-49.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$2.13 €1.91
-39.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$1.99 €1.78
-44.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$1.48 €1.32
-52.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.58 €0.52
-15.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$6.09 €5.46
-32.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$7.55 €6.77
132.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.66 €1.49
-3.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.20 €1.97
26.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$1.73 €1.55
-49.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$39.63 €35.51
36.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$6.28 €5.63
-81.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.90 €1.70
-72.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$34.82 €31.20
-93.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.78 €1.60
-18.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$34.1K €30.5K
-38.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$32.7K €29.3K
-17.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$225 €202
-72.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$9.26 €8.30
31.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$32.04 €28.71
-37.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$57.1 €51.2
-34.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$24.05 €21.55
-84.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$9.46 €8.48
-31.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$514 €460
43.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$10.1K €9,070
45.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$83.5 €74.8
-36.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$40.73 €36.50
-39.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$106 €94.6
-13.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$125 €112
-42.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$622 €558
-22.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$500 €448
-38.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,028 €921
-2.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$811 €727
-21.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$2,583 €2,314
-8.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,920 €1,720
-17.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.32
67.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Castrocaro Terme: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Castrocaro Terme
$500 62% $192
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Castrocaro Terme
$329 40.5% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Castrocaro Terme
$159 46.8% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Castrocaro Terme
$266 182% $172
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Castrocaro Terme
$229 196% $152
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Castrocaro Terme
$62 1.6% $1
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Castrocaro Terme
$76 51.3% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Chiang Mai and $622 in Castrocaro Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19 in Chiang Mai vs $68 in Castrocaro Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $329 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇹 Castrocaro Terme
🕒 Local time
20:13 8:13 PM
14:13 2:13 PM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
6,300
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Castrocaro Terme 8,330 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Castrocaro Terme

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 Castrocaro Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Castrocaro Terme?
Chiang Mai is about 42% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,403 in Chiang Mai and $2,435 in Castrocaro Terme 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.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Castrocaro Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Chiang Mai versus $622 in Castrocaro 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 in Castrocaro Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Castrocaro Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or in Castrocaro Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19 versus $68 in Castrocaro Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Chiang Mai or in Castrocaro Terme?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Chiang Mai is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Chiang Mai or in Castrocaro Terme?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Castrocaro Terme?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Castrocaro Terme are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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?