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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,322 per month in Ioannina vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,982 per month in Ioannina vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,641 per month in Ioannina vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ioannina costs about 52% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ioannina and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ioannina 2% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15 €14.78
$1.98 ฿64.3
766.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.05 €29.33
$18.80 ฿612
81.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.57 €8.25
$7.75 ฿252
23.48%
Cappuccino
$3.80 €3.28
$1.92 ฿62.5
97.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.96
$0.79 ฿25.79
188.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.51
$0.36 ฿11.62
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.49 €3.87
$2.21 ฿72.1
103.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 €5.03
$3.66 ฿119
59.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 €1.28
$1.65 ฿53.8
-9.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 €1.03
$1.63 ฿53.2
-26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.19 ฿38.86
100.00%
Eggs
$3.28 €2.83
$2.00 ฿65.1
64.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 €9.13
$15.98 ฿520
-33.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$3.03 ฿98.5
164.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.84 €9.34
$10.86 ฿354
-0.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.76 ฿90.0
-27.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.18 ฿38.42
65.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 €1.03
$1.64 ฿53.5
-26.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 €2.09
$1.52 ฿49.51
59.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 €1.03
$1.38 ฿45.10
-13.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 €0.92
$1.19 ฿38.84
-10.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 €0.88
$0.70 ฿22.86
45.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.74
$0.56 ฿18.13
53.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.20 €4.48
$4.58 ฿149
13.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.89 €5.93
$16.56 ฿539
-58.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.83 ฿59.5
9.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.41
$3.20 ฿104
-12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.58 €1.36
$0.88 ฿28.56
79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.29 €30.41
$18.72 ฿610
88.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.52 €3.89
$1.36 ฿44.16
232.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.34 ฿43.65
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.01 €6.04
$7.84 ฿256
-10.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 €1.81
$1.23 ฿39.92
70.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K €21.5K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
15.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €22.9K
$22.5K ฿734.3K
17.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 €189
$70.5 ฿2,298
211.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.73 €17.86
$13.68 ฿445
51.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.09 €26.79
$17.45 ฿568
78.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.65 €40.19
$41.33 ฿1,346
12.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.10 €39.72
$6.96 ฿227
562.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.53 €8.21
$5.77 ฿188
65.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$342 €295
$307 ฿10.0K
11.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,298 €7,150
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-43.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 €59.9
$55.8 ฿1,817
24.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.94 €32.69
$26.21 ฿854
44.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 €66.9
$85.8 ฿2,793
-9.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €100
$72.2 ฿2,353
61.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$408 €352
$430 ฿14.0K
-4.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 €269
$239 ฿7,774
30.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$688 €593
$817 ฿26.6K
-15.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$560 €483
$511 ฿16.6K
9.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,068 €2,644
$1,983 ฿64.6K
54.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,551 €2,198
$1,484 ฿48.3K
71.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ioannina
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,125 €969
$619 ฿20.2K
81.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
5
-6.40%

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

Last update for Ioannina: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $408 in Ioannina versus $430 in Chiang Mai. 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 82% higher in Ioannina, 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 $34.00 in Ioannina versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $241 – 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
Ioannina vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ioannina or Chiang Mai?
Ioannina costs about 52% 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 Ioannina vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,983 per month in Ioannina and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ioannina or Chiang Mai?
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 Ioannina and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $342 per month in Ioannina and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ioannina or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Ioannina, 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 Ioannina or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Ioannina at $1,322. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ioannina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ioannina or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,322 in Ioannina. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ioannina compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Ioannina or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ioannina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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