๐A single person spends $872 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,674 in Terracina, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,337 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,616 in Terracina, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,559 in Terracina, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai is about 48% cheaper than Terracina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Terracina is 24% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01เธฟ64.5
$17.14โฌ14.58
-88.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23เธฟ584
$93.6โฌ79.7
-80.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65เธฟ245
$11.51โฌ9.80
-33.54%
Cappuccino
$1.92เธฟ61.5
$1.48โฌ1.26
29.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84เธฟ26.97
$2.30โฌ1.96
-63.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36เธฟ11.42
$1.01โฌ0.86
-64.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19เธฟ70.2
$5.96โฌ5.07
-63.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79เธฟ121
$5.13โฌ4.37
-26.12%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64เธฟ52.5
$1.66โฌ1.41
-1.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62เธฟ52.0
$2.24โฌ1.91
-27.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15เธฟ36.98
$2.74โฌ2.33
-58.03%
Eggs
$1.94เธฟ62.2
$4.03โฌ3.43
-51.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.94เธฟ511
$15.51โฌ13.20
2.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10เธฟ99.5
$12.50โฌ10.64
-75.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.07เธฟ355
$19.60โฌ16.68
-43.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71เธฟ86.8
$2.46โฌ2.09
10.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18เธฟ37.80
$2.05โฌ1.75
-42.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71เธฟ54.7
$2.64โฌ2.25
-35.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ51.5
$3.26โฌ2.78
-50.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39เธฟ44.66
$1.85โฌ1.57
-24.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15เธฟ36.81
$1.69โฌ1.44
-31.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71เธฟ22.83
$1.44โฌ1.23
-50.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55เธฟ17.65
$0.49โฌ0.42
12.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57เธฟ146
$6.85โฌ5.83
-33.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.87เธฟ605
$6.96โฌ5.92
171.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82เธฟ58.4
$1.72โฌ1.46
5.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21เธฟ103
$2.49โฌ2.12
28.92%
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88เธฟ28.24
$1.78โฌ1.52
-50.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.89เธฟ606
$43.72โฌ37.20
-56.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.30
$5.87โฌ4.99
-75.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30เธฟ41.71
$1.55โฌ1.32
-16.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20เธฟ263
$34.12โฌ29.04
-75.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23เธฟ39.29
$2.10โฌ1.78
-41.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kเธฟ678.9K
$32.6Kโฌ27.8K
-35.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3Kเธฟ715.3K
$33.2Kโฌ28.2K
-32.74%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9เธฟ2,240
$221โฌ188
-68.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07เธฟ451
$13.32โฌ11.33
5.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70เธฟ567
$30.65โฌ26.08
-42.25%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.41เธฟ1,328
$53.7โฌ45.73
-22.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69เธฟ215
$23.47โฌ19.97
-71.50%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74เธฟ184
$8.03โฌ6.84
-28.52%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299เธฟ9,593
$565โฌ481
-47.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kเธฟ481.2K
$8,014โฌ6,820
87.28%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8เธฟ1,758
$86.5โฌ73.6
-36.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35เธฟ845
$38.12โฌ32.44
-30.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7เธฟ2,714
$90.0โฌ76.6
-5.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7เธฟ2,236
$126โฌ108
-44.86%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427เธฟ13.7K
$760โฌ647
-43.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241เธฟ7,718
$582โฌ495
-58.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811เธฟ26.0K
$1,218โฌ1,036
-33.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498เธฟ16.0K
$917โฌ781
-45.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,022เธฟ64.8K
$3,405โฌ2,898
-40.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,524เธฟ48.9K
$2,044โฌ1,740
-25.46%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Terracina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$639เธฟ20.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.45
12.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Last update for Terracina: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Chiang Mai versus $760 in Terracina. 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 $94 in Terracina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $333 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 Terracina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Terracina?
Terracina costs about 92% 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 Terracina?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,308 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,510 in Terracina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Terracina?
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 Terracina?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $565 in Terracina. 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 Terracina?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Terracina, 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 Terracina?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Terracina at $1,674. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Terracina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Terracina?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $1,674 in Terracina. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Terracina?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Terracina?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Terracina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared