Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chieti Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chieti

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,771 in Chieti, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,721 in Chieti, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,671 in Chieti, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 52% cheaper than Chieti, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Chieti is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿63.6
$23.50 €20.23
-91.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39 ฿598
$81.3 €70.0
-77.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 ฿256
$10.61 €9.13
-25.82%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.4
$1.62 €1.40
20.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.57
$2.99 €2.58
-71.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.52
$1.19 €1.03
-73.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿69.6
$5.33 €4.59
-59.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿120
$5.26 €4.53
-30.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿53.9
$1.64 €1.41
1.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ฿50.7
$2.19 €1.88
-28.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.63
$2.82 €2.42
-57.80%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.7
$3.85 €3.31
-48.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 ฿528
$15.59 €13.43
4.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿103
$12.37 €10.65
-74.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.84 ฿352
$19.03 €16.39
-43.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿86.2
$1.71 €1.47
54.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.67
$2.00 €1.72
-39.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.7
$2.63 €2.26
-37.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.3
$3.14 €2.70
-50.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 ฿43.17
$1.79 €1.54
-25.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.43
$1.77 €1.52
-31.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿22.04
$1.51 €1.30
-54.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.38
$0.86 €0.74
-33.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 ฿152
$6.63 €5.71
-29.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 ฿552
$6.62 €5.70
156.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿59.3
$1.45 €1.25
25.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿103
$2.00 €1.72
59.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ฿29.46
$1.78 €1.53
-48.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.74 ฿609
$43.33 €37.31
-56.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.80
$5.85 €5.04
-75.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.52
$1.52 €1.31
-11.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ฿265
$34.71 €29.89
-76.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿41.53
$2.19 €1.89
-41.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ฿709.3K
$32.7K €28.2K
-33.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ฿728.0K
$32.8K €28.2K
-31.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,291
$237 €204
-70.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05 ฿457
$13.23 €11.39
6.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65 ฿574
$37.58 €32.36
-53.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.29 ฿1,342
$55.3 €47.61
-25.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76 ฿220
$23.00 €19.81
-70.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96 ฿194
$10.30 €8.87
-42.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 ฿9,846
$549 €472
-44.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿486.2K
$8,143 €7,012
83.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,778
$88.1 €75.9
-37.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29 ฿854
$37.83 €32.57
-30.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,788
$90.1 €77.6
-4.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,265
$128 €110
-45.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿13.9K
$742 €639
-42.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,769
$585 €504
-59.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿26.4K
$1,202 €1,035
-32.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 ฿16.6K
$915 €788
-44.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,025 ฿65.8K
$2,877 €2,478
-29.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,502 ฿48.8K
$2,146 €1,848
-30.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Chieti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 ฿20.2K
$1,278 €1,101
-51.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.45
12.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Chieti: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $742 in Chieti. 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 105% higher in Chieti, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $81.0 in Chieti. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $327 – 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 Chieti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Chieti?
Chieti costs about 109% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Chieti?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,656 in Chieti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Chieti?
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 childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Chieti?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $549 in Chieti. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Chieti?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Chieti, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Chieti?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Chieti at $1,771. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chieti it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Chieti?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,771 in Chieti. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Chieti?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Chieti?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chieti makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities