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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,156 per month in Kastamonu vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,788 per month in Kastamonu vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,420 per month in Kastamonu vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kastamonu costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kastamonu and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kastamonu 14% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.71 ₺448
$1.98 ฿64.9
390.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.51 ₺1,776
$18.80 ฿618
104.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.04 ₺417
$7.75 ฿255
16.65%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₺144
$1.92 ฿63.1
63.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₺55.9
$0.79 ฿26.03
53.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₺18.95
$0.36 ฿11.72
13.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.29 ₺152
$2.21 ฿72.8
48.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 ₺177
$3.66 ฿120
4.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 ₺44.70
$1.65 ฿54.3
-41.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 ₺29.91
$1.63 ฿53.6
-60.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 ₺110
$1.19 ฿39.22
100.00%
Eggs
$2.37 ₺109
$2.00 ฿65.7
18.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 ₺429
$15.98 ฿525
-41.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.77 ₺266
$3.03 ฿99.4
90.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.07 ₺879
$10.86 ฿357
75.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.45 ₺66.7
$2.76 ฿90.8
-47.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 ₺110
$1.18 ฿38.77
101.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 ₺60.9
$1.64 ฿54.0
-19.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ₺70.7
$1.52 ฿49.97
0.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ₺33.76
$1.38 ฿45.52
-47.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 ₺26.51
$1.19 ฿39.19
-52.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₺51.3
$0.70 ฿23.08
58.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₺19.75
$0.56 ฿18.30
-23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 ₺100
$4.58 ฿150
-52.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 ₺459
$16.56 ฿544
-39.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₺93.1
$1.83 ฿60.1
10.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₺144
$3.20 ฿105
-2.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 ₺31.15
$0.88 ฿28.83
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.60 ₺1,411
$18.72 ฿615
63.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 ₺39.03
$1.36 ฿44.57
-37.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 ₺29.74
$1.34 ฿44.05
-51.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 ₺284
$7.84 ฿258
-21.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ₺54.7
$1.23 ฿40.29
-3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K ₺2.0M
$21.6K ฿710.8K
96.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.0M
$22.5K ฿741.1K
91.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.1 ₺3,880
$70.5 ฿2,319
19.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.72 ₺494
$13.68 ฿450
-21.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.77 ₺635
$17.45 ฿574
-21.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.86 ₺2,022
$41.33 ฿1,359
6.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿229
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 ₺298
$5.77 ฿190
12.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$599 ₺27.6K
$307 ฿10.1K
95.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K ₺623.3K
$14.6K ฿480.2K
-7.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ₺2,700
$55.8 ฿1,834
4.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.75 ₺2,017
$26.21 ฿861
66.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 ₺4,819
$85.8 ฿2,819
21.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.5 ₺4,449
$72.2 ฿2,375
33.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$508 ₺23.4K
$430 ฿14.1K
18.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 ₺18.0K
$239 ฿7,845
63.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ₺41.1K
$817 ฿26.9K
9.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$704 ₺32.4K
$511 ฿16.8K
37.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,317 ₺60.7K
$1,983 ฿65.2K
-33.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$910 ₺42.0K
$1,484 ฿48.8K
-38.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kastamonu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,362 ₺62.8K
$619 ฿20.3K
120.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40
5
700.00%

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

Last update for Kastamonu: June 9, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $508 in Kastamonu 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 120% higher in Kastamonu, 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 $39.00 in Kastamonu versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Kastamonu vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Kastamonu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Kastamonu vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kastamonu or Chiang Mai?
Kastamonu costs about 33% 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 Kastamonu vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,734 per month in Kastamonu 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, Kastamonu 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 Kastamonu and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $599 per month in Kastamonu 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 Kastamonu or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Kastamonu – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kastamonu or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Kastamonu at $1,156. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kastamonu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kastamonu or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,156 in Kastamonu. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kastamonu 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 Kastamonu or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kastamonu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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