๐A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,644 in Cattolica Eraclea, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,488 in Cattolica Eraclea, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,331 in Cattolica Eraclea, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai is about 49% cheaper than Cattolica Eraclea, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Cattolica Eraclea is 23% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95เธฟ62.8
$17.22โฌ14.69
-88.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43เธฟ594
$68.7โฌ58.6
-73.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50เธฟ241
$11.60โฌ9.90
-35.34%
Cappuccino
$1.93เธฟ62.3
$1.91โฌ1.63
1.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78เธฟ25.08
$2.49โฌ2.13
-68.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32เธฟ10.42
$1.29โฌ1.10
-75.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15เธฟ69.2
$5.48โฌ4.67
-60.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71เธฟ120
$3.43โฌ2.92
8.16%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71เธฟ55.2
$1.48โฌ1.26
15.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56เธฟ50.3
$1.85โฌ1.58
-15.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18เธฟ38.06
$2.44โฌ2.09
-51.64%
Eggs
$1.98เธฟ63.9
$3.14โฌ2.68
-36.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04เธฟ517
$10.50โฌ8.96
52.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17เธฟ102
$11.09โฌ9.46
-71.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94เธฟ353
$16.42โฌ14.00
-33.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63เธฟ84.7
$1.75โฌ1.49
50.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ37.61
$1.54โฌ1.31
-24.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65เธฟ53.0
$1.51โฌ1.29
9.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54เธฟ49.51
$1.70โฌ1.45
-9.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38เธฟ44.34
$1.35โฌ1.16
2.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ37.54
$1.13โฌ0.97
3.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66เธฟ21.25
$0.85โฌ0.73
-22.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51เธฟ16.55
$0.47โฌ0.40
8.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52เธฟ146
$6.68โฌ5.70
-32.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32เธฟ590
$4.57โฌ3.90
300.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80เธฟ57.9
$2.00โฌ1.70
-10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18เธฟ102
$3.12โฌ2.66
1.92%
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90เธฟ28.97
$1.77โฌ1.51
-49.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00เธฟ612
$43.50โฌ37.10
-56.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.50
$6.91โฌ5.89
-79.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31เธฟ42.15
$1.07โฌ0.91
22.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09เธฟ261
$29.42โฌ25.09
-72.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28เธฟ41.08
$2.03โฌ1.73
-36.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kเธฟ686.1K
$25.7Kโฌ21.9K
-17.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7Kเธฟ699.3K
$25.6Kโฌ21.9K
-15.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2เธฟ2,230
$212โฌ181
-67.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97เธฟ450
$14.73โฌ12.57
-5.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95เธฟ578
$39.14โฌ33.39
-54.14%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31เธฟ1,363
$54.5โฌ46.47
-22.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66เธฟ214
$23.56โฌ20.10
-71.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92เธฟ191
$9.53โฌ8.13
-37.88%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299เธฟ9,640
$443โฌ378
-32.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kเธฟ478.4K
$6,825โฌ5,822
117.57%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2เธฟ1,810
$78.4โฌ66.9
-28.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94เธฟ868
$29.13โฌ24.85
-7.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9เธฟ2,735
$87.1โฌ74.3
-2.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8เธฟ2,314
$115โฌ98.2
-37.63%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435เธฟ14.0K
$764โฌ652
-43.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240เธฟ7,727
$571โฌ487
-58.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798เธฟ25.7K
$1,232โฌ1,051
-35.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498เธฟ16.1K
$922โฌ787
-45.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995เธฟ64.3K
$3,001โฌ2,560
-33.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532เธฟ49.4K
$2,105โฌ1,796
-27.24%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cattolica Eraclea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628เธฟ20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.59
8.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Cattolica Eraclea: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $764 in Cattolica Eraclea. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $69 in Cattolica Eraclea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $265 โ making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Cattolica Eraclea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cattolica Eraclea cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes โ Cattolica Eraclea is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,466 in Cattolica Eraclea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and Cattolica Eraclea?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Cattolica Eraclea, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or Cattolica Eraclea?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $69.0 in Cattolica Eraclea. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Cattolica Eraclea?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Cattolica Eraclea at $1,644. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cattolica Eraclea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Cattolica Eraclea more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Cattolica Eraclea?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cattolica Eraclea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared