ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,724 in Castrocaro Terme.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $2,618 in Castrocaro Terme.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $3,512 in Castrocaro Terme.
ðLiving in Chiang Mai costs roughly 51% less than in Castrocaro Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Castrocaro Terme is 29% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$17.53âŽ15.01
-88.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$75.7âŽ64.8
-75.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$11.42âŽ9.78
-30.65%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$2.00âŽ1.71
-4.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$2.94âŽ2.52
-71.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$1.36âŽ1.16
-74.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$5.95âŽ5.09
-62.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$5.13âŽ4.39
-25.93%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$1.62âŽ1.39
1.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$2.24âŽ1.92
-27.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$2.69âŽ2.30
-56.13%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$3.94âŽ3.37
-48.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$15.60âŽ13.36
1.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$12.34âŽ10.56
-75.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$19.32âŽ16.54
-44.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$2.37âŽ2.03
10.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$2.05âŽ1.76
-40.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$2.56âŽ2.20
-33.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$3.17âŽ2.71
-50.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$1.85âŽ1.58
-28.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$1.79âŽ1.53
-34.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$1.51âŽ1.30
-55.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.50âŽ0.42
12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$6.84âŽ5.85
-33.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$7.99âŽ6.84
127.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$1.65âŽ1.41
10.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$2.52âŽ2.16
28.17%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$1.69âŽ1.45
-47.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$43.07âŽ36.87
-55.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$5.86âŽ5.02
-76.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$1.59âŽ1.36
-15.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$34.57âŽ29.59
-76.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$2.01âŽ1.72
-36.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$33.0KâŽ28.2K
-35.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$33.3KâŽ28.5K
-32.57%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$216âŽ185
-67.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$12.95âŽ11.09
6.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$30.33âŽ25.97
-41.97%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$55.7âŽ47.66
-25.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$22.77âŽ19.49
-71.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$10.47âŽ8.96
-44.79%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$562âŽ481
-45.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$7,948âŽ6,804
86.52%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$87.8âŽ75.2
-38.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$37.87âŽ32.42
-30.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$91.1âŽ78.0
-7.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$131âŽ112
-46.87%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$750âŽ642
-43.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$589âŽ504
-59.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$1,209âŽ1,035
-31.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$941âŽ805
-45.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$3,067âŽ2,625
-33.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$2,128âŽ1,821
-28.43%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.45
12.36%
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 Castrocaro Terme: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $750 in Castrocaro Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $76.0 in Castrocaro Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $332 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 Castrocaro Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Castrocaro Terme cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $2,586 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: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $750 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 Castrocaro Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% 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 Castrocaro Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai â a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $76.0 in Castrocaro 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 Castrocaro Terme?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,724 in Castrocaro Terme, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Castrocaro Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Castrocaro Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Castrocaro Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Castrocaro Terme?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Castrocaro 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 â expenses run 102% less than in Castrocaro 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