Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Volos

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,524 in Volos, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Volos, Greece
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Volos
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,524
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Volos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Volos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,524 in Volos, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Volos $1,524

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,316 in Volos, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Volos $2,316

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,108 in Volos, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Volos $3,108

Chiang Mai is about 39% cheaper than Volos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Volos is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$20.16 €18.05
-88.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$56.1 €50.3
-66.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$10.18 €9.12
-45.48%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$4.32 €3.87
-61.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$2.78 €2.49
-76.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.61 €0.55
-49.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$5.69 €5.10
-58.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$5.54 €4.96
-33.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.57 €1.41
24.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.46
$1.52 €1.36
-5.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.03
$2.82 €2.53
-52.84%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$4.73 €4.23
-51.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$13.15 €11.78
25.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$10.05 €9.00
-72.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$14.93 €13.37
-37.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.44 €2.19
-3.69%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.79
$2.02 €1.81
-51.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.70 €1.52
-5.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.04 €1.82
-26.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.11
$0.89 €0.80
43.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.18
$1.01 €0.90
8.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.91 €0.82
-21.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.36
$1.05 €0.94
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$5.46 €4.89
-24.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$9.02 €8.08
94.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.21 €1.98
-27.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$2.40 €2.15
15.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.30
$1.30 €1.17
-33.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,825
$59.0 €52.9
-8.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.04
$4.05 €3.63
-71.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.03 €0.92
-48.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.7
$19.38 €17.36
-87.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.88
$2.21 €1.98
-34.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.5K
$27.6K €24.7K
-23.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.0K
$24.4K €21.9K
10.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$209 €187
-70.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$22.57 €20.21
-46.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$29.78 €26.67
-32.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$53.8 €48.14
-30.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$45.73 €40.95
-91.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$8.67 €7.77
-25.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$274 €246
168.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$95.8 €85.8
-44.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$57.9 €51.9
-57.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$86.6 €77.5
5.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,427
$88.8 €79.5
-18.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$501 €449
-3.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$381 €342
-19.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$748 €670
34.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$592 €530
6.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.7K
$2,473 €2,214
-4.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,648 €1,476
-3.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Volos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$1,015 €909
-41.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.47
24.61%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Volos: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Volos
$381 23.5% $73
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Volos
$292 24.5% $57
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Volos
$148 36.3% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Volos
$261 177% $167
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Volos
$297 283% $219
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Volos
$73 19.7% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Volos
$71 41.4% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $501 in Volos. 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 72% higher in Volos. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $56 in Volos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $292 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇬🇷 Volos
🕒 Local time
11:06 11:06 AM
06:06 6:06 AM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
82,439
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Volos 7,520 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Volos

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Volos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Volos?
Volos costs about 63% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 and in Volos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,286 in Volos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Volos?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $501 in Volos. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Volos?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $274 in Volos. 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 in Volos?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Volos, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Volos?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,524 in Volos. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Volos?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,524 in Volos. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Volos?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Volos?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Volos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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