ðA single person spends $872 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,519 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,337 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,313 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,107 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, rent included.
ðChiang Mai is about 43% cheaper than Santa Maria Capua Vetere, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðChiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Santa Maria Capua Vetere is 13% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01āļŋ64.5
$11.42âŽ9.72
-82.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23āļŋ584
$57.2âŽ48.67
-68.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65āļŋ245
$11.43âŽ9.73
-33.07%
Cappuccino
$1.92āļŋ61.5
$1.19âŽ1.01
61.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ26.97
$2.82âŽ2.40
-70.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36āļŋ11.42
$1.48âŽ1.26
-75.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19āļŋ70.2
$3.40âŽ2.90
-35.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79āļŋ121
$5.15âŽ4.38
-26.41%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ52.5
$1.11âŽ0.95
47.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ52.0
$2.07âŽ1.76
-21.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15āļŋ36.98
$2.34âŽ1.99
-50.85%
Eggs
$1.94āļŋ62.2
$1.69âŽ1.43
14.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.94āļŋ511
$15.08âŽ12.83
5.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10āļŋ99.5
$12.20âŽ10.38
-74.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.07āļŋ355
$18.01âŽ15.33
-38.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71āļŋ86.8
$1.55âŽ1.32
74.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ37.80
$1.77âŽ1.50
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71āļŋ54.7
$1.78âŽ1.51
-3.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$2.25âŽ1.91
-28.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39āļŋ44.66
$1.47âŽ1.25
-5.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15āļŋ36.81
$1.77âŽ1.50
-35.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71āļŋ22.83
$1.53âŽ1.30
-53.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55āļŋ17.65
$0.34âŽ0.29
61.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57āļŋ146
$5.89âŽ5.01
-22.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.87āļŋ605
$7.71âŽ6.56
144.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$1.68âŽ1.43
8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21āļŋ103
$1.60âŽ1.36
100.62%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88āļŋ28.24
$1.79âŽ1.52
-50.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.89āļŋ606
$42.92âŽ36.53
-55.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41āļŋ45.30
$3.52âŽ3.00
-59.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30āļŋ41.71
$2.11âŽ1.79
-38.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20āļŋ263
$28.49âŽ24.25
-71.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23āļŋ39.29
$2.06âŽ1.76
-40.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ678.9K
$30.1KâŽ25.6K
-29.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3Kāļŋ715.3K
$27.7KâŽ23.6K
-19.55%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9āļŋ2,240
$188âŽ160
-62.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07āļŋ451
$14.32âŽ12.19
-1.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70āļŋ567
$30.78âŽ26.19
-42.50%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.41āļŋ1,328
$55.2âŽ46.99
-25.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69āļŋ215
$23.27âŽ19.80
-71.25%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74āļŋ184
$8.78âŽ7.47
-34.62%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299āļŋ9,593
$618âŽ526
-51.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kāļŋ481.2K
$4,085âŽ3,476
267.41%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8āļŋ1,758
$68.3âŽ58.2
-19.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35āļŋ845
$31.30âŽ26.64
-15.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7āļŋ2,714
$80.9âŽ68.9
4.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7āļŋ2,236
$88.2âŽ75.1
-20.97%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427āļŋ13.7K
$746âŽ635
-42.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241āļŋ7,718
$568âŽ483
-57.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811āļŋ26.0K
$1,235âŽ1,051
-34.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498āļŋ16.0K
$940âŽ800
-46.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,022āļŋ64.8K
$3,117âŽ2,653
-35.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,524āļŋ48.9K
$2,370âŽ2,017
-35.69%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$639āļŋ20.5K
$1,279âŽ1,089
-50.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.93
1.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Last update for Santa Maria Capua Vetere: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Chiang Mai versus $746 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 100% higher in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $57 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $290 â 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Santa Maria Capua Vetere costs about 74% 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,308 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,279 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $618 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Santa Maria Capua Vetere at $1,519. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Maria Capua Vetere it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $1,519 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Maria Capua Vetere makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared