Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kefalonia and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,571 in Kefalonia, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kefalonia, Greece
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kefalonia
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,571
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,571 per month in Kefalonia vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kefalonia $1,571
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $2,339 per month in Kefalonia vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kefalonia $2,339
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

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

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

Kefalonia costs about 68% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Kefalonia sits 15% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.00 €13.48
$2.24 ฿75.7
569.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.51 €34.60
$19.00 ฿642
102.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 €9.13
$5.55 ฿188
83.06%
Cappuccino
$3.09 €2.77
$1.67 ฿56.6
85.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 €3.00
$0.64 ฿21.56
421.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.54
$0.31 ฿10.32
93.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.81 €4.32
$2.36 ฿79.6
103.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32 €4.78
$3.66 ฿124
45.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 €1.43
$1.95 ฿65.8
-17.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 €1.43
$1.44 ฿48.51
11.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 €2.02
$1.33 ฿45.07
69.17%
Eggs
$4.68 €4.21
$2.28 ฿77.1
105.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.07 €11.75
$16.45 ฿556
-20.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.95 €8.94
$2.78 ฿94.0
257.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.96 €13.44
$9.31 ฿314
60.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$2.35 ฿79.5
-16.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$0.97 ฿32.82
87.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 €1.42
$1.60 ฿53.9
-1.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.89
$1.50 ฿50.7
40.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 €1.01
$1.28 ฿43.15
-12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 €1.00
$1.10 ฿37.22
0.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 €1.09
$0.71 ฿23.84
70.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 €0.73
$0.49 ฿16.38
65.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 €4.77
$4.14 ฿140
28.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.69 €6.02
$17.52 ฿592
-61.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.24
$1.61 ฿54.5
54.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 €2.29
$2.78 ฿94.0
-8.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 €1.09
$0.87 ฿29.33
39.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.36 €43.45
$54.1 ฿1,827
-10.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 €3.41
$1.16 ฿39.08
227.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 €0.89
$0.53 ฿17.82
86.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.47 €14.80
$2.42 ฿81.8
580.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.80
$1.45 ฿48.93
37.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K €24.7K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
30.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K €22.9K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
-5.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$284 €255
$62.2 ฿2,100
357.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 €21.08
$12.17 ฿411
92.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.53 €27.43
$20.12 ฿680
51.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.5 €45.34
$37.31 ฿1,260
35.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.65 €22.15
$3.77 ฿127
553.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.78 €7.89
$6.49 ฿219
35.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$443 €398
$736 ฿24.9K
-39.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K €9,056
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-31.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1 €81.0
$53.4 ฿1,802
68.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.74 €31.22
$24.64 ฿832
40.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 €84.6
$91.5 ฿3,089
2.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €110
$71.9 ฿2,429
69.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 €484
$482 ฿16.3K
11.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$429 €386
$309 ฿10.4K
38.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 €989
$1,006 ฿34.0K
9.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$787 €707
$633 ฿21.4K
24.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,621 €2,355
$2,363 ฿79.8K
10.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,814 €1,630
$1,589 ฿53.7K
14.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kefalonia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,111 €998
$590 ฿19.9K
88.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
5.57
-19.57%

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

Last update for Kefalonia: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kefalonia
$429
Chiang Mai
$309 28.1% $120
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kefalonia
$338
Chiang Mai
$94 72.1% $244
Groceries & Markets
Kefalonia
$282
Chiang Mai
$234 16.9% $48
Eating Out
Kefalonia
$238
Chiang Mai
$78 67.4% $160
Clothing & Footwear
Kefalonia
$154
Chiang Mai
$109 29.2% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Kefalonia
$68
Chiang Mai
$50 26.1% $18
Getting Around
Kefalonia
$62
Chiang Mai
$61 1% $0.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $539 in Kefalonia versus $482 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 88% higher in Kefalonia. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39 in Kefalonia versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Kefalonia
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
08:47 8:47 AM
13:47 1:47 PM
5 h ahead of Kefalonia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,404
127,240
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kefalonia Chiang Mai 7,740 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kefalonia
  • Chiang Mai

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
Kefalonia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kefalonia or Chiang Mai?
Kefalonia costs about 68% 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 Kefalonia and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,357 per month in Kefalonia and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kefalonia or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $539 in Kefalonia.
How do childcare costs compare in Kefalonia and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Kefalonia and $736 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 Kefalonia or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Kefalonia, 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 $800/month in Kefalonia or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,571 in Kefalonia and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kefalonia or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,571 in Kefalonia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Kefalonia 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 Kefalonia or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kefalonia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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