😐A single person spends $1,960 per month in Pescara vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,955 per month in Pescara vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,951 per month in Pescara vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Pescara costs about 128% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Pescara sits 47% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.12€20.20
$1.96฿65.7
1079.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.2€69.2
$18.35฿616
331.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.16€9.75
$7.48฿251
49.20%
Cappuccino
$2.12€1.86
$2.02฿67.7
4.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.63
$0.85฿28.45
254.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$0.36฿11.94
269.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.71€4.11
$2.14฿71.7
120.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10€4.46
$3.59฿121
42.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97€1.72
$1.65฿55.4
19.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.36€2.06
$1.57฿52.6
50.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.24€2.83
$1.19฿39.95
172.27%
Eggs
$4.50€3.93
$1.94฿65.0
131.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.44€15.24
$16.19฿544
7.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.46€12.63
$2.99฿100
383.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.20€19.40
$10.94฿367
102.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99€2.61
$2.71฿91.0
10.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.87
$1.17฿39.18
82.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.77€2.42
$1.69฿56.6
63.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.21€2.81
$1.60฿53.9
100.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93€1.69
$1.38฿46.45
39.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66€1.45
$1.20฿40.38
38.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73€2.39
$0.67฿22.46
307.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.58
$0.56฿18.70
19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.11
$4.64฿156
50.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.16€7.13
$17.62฿591
-53.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.75
$1.86฿62.4
8.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.20
$3.30฿111
-23.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.48
$0.88฿29.63
93.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.12€41.17
$19.34฿649
143.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.42€5.61
$1.36฿45.82
372.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53€1.33
$1.34฿44.90
14.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.45€20.49
$8.21฿276
185.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.22฿41.11
70.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K€28.6K
$21.4K฿716.8K
53.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€26.7K
$22.5K฿756.3K
35.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238€208
$70.7฿2,372
236.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.43€13.48
$14.04฿471
9.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.25€31.67
$17.49฿587
107.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.4€47.53
$42.15฿1,415
29.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.45€26.60
$6.88฿231
342.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.05€7.90
$5.92฿199
52.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$598€523
$309฿10.4K
93.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€9,045
$14.9K฿499.5K
-30.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.3€82.4
$55.8฿1,872
69.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2€43.89
$26.11฿877
92.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142€124
$83.0฿2,787
70.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155€135
$70.5฿2,365
120.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$794€694
$432฿14.5K
83.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636€556
$239฿8,020
166.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,279€1,117
$822฿27.6K
55.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,006€879
$512฿17.2K
96.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,397€2,968
$1,915฿64.3K
77.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,861€1,626
$1,467฿49.3K
26.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pescara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,721€1,504
$579฿19.4K
197.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.6
5
-8.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pescara: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Pescara versus $432 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 197% higher in Pescara, 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 $79.0 in Pescara versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 vs $243 – 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
Pescara vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pescara or Chiang Mai?
Pescara costs about 128% 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 Pescara and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,940 per month in Pescara and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pescara 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 Pescara and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $598 per month in Pescara and $309 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 Pescara or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Pescara, 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 Pescara or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Pescara at $1,960. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pescara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pescara or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,960 in Pescara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pescara 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 Pescara or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pescara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.