😐A single person spends $1,352 per month in Katerini vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,988 per month in Katerini vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,624 per month in Katerini vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Katerini costs about 56% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Katerini sits 1% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.51€11.62
$1.94฿63.5
596.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8€48.86
$18.64฿609
204.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.14€7.86
$7.82฿255
16.88%
Cappuccino
$4.16€3.57
$1.95฿63.8
113.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.41
$0.85฿27.77
92.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.51
$0.35฿11.58
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.12€4.41
$2.13฿69.6
140.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92€5.09
$3.73฿122
58.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.20
$1.71฿56.0
-18.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63€1.40
$1.63฿53.2
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$1.14฿37.15
77.19%
Eggs
$3.75€3.22
$1.93฿63.1
94.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.21€9.64
$16.21฿530
-30.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.38€8.06
$3.12฿102
200.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.32€11.46
$10.90฿356
22.20%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$2.75฿90.0
-34.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95€1.67
$1.21฿39.52
61.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07€0.92
$1.62฿53.0
-33.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81€1.55
$1.59฿51.8
13.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08€0.93
$1.40฿45.70
-22.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28€1.10
$1.17฿38.17
9.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05€0.90
$0.66฿21.60
59.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45€0.39
$0.53฿17.22
-15.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.74€4.08
$4.69฿153
1.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.47€6.42
$18.66฿609
-59.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.03
$1.80฿58.8
-33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.43
$3.23฿106
-48.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42€1.22
$0.90฿29.26
57.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.81€35.10
$19.21฿628
112.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13€2.69
$1.41฿45.91
121.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.29฿42.12
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.10€14.71
$7.84฿256
118.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.79
$1.27฿41.58
63.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K€23.5K
$21.3K฿694.9K
28.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K€21.4K
$22.2K฿725.4K
11.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$293€252
$69.1฿2,256
323.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.24€19.99
$14.08฿460
65.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.88€25.70
$18.00฿588
66.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2€44.08
$41.06฿1,341
24.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.10€22.45
$6.96฿227
275.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.86€8.48
$5.92฿193
66.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$362€312
$299฿9,766
21.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,567€3,928
$15.0K฿488.3K
-69.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.1€85.2
$54.7฿1,787
81.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.14€33.66
$26.77฿874
46.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.4€58.9
$85.0฿2,776
-19.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2€63.0
$70.6฿2,306
3.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312€268
$428฿14.0K
-27.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270€232
$237฿7,752
13.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512€441
$801฿26.2K
-36.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$425€366
$515฿16.8K
-17.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,620€1,393
$1,975฿64.5K
-17.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,335€1,148
$1,475฿48.2K
-9.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Katerini
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,188€1,022
$617฿20.2K
92.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.34
5
-13.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Katerini: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $312 in Katerini versus $428 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 92% higher in Katerini, 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 $57.0 in Katerini versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $246 – 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
Katerini vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Katerini or Chiang Mai?
Katerini costs about 56% 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 Katerini vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,028 per month in Katerini and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Katerini 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 Katerini and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Katerini and $299 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 Katerini or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Katerini, 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 Katerini or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Katerini at $1,352. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Katerini it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Katerini or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,352 in Katerini. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Katerini 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 Katerini or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Katerini makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.