ðA single person spends $1,519 per month in Santa Maria Capua Vetere vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,313 per month in Santa Maria Capua Vetere vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,107 per month in Santa Maria Capua Vetere vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðSanta Maria Capua Vetere costs about 74% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðSanta Maria Capua Vetere sits 13% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.42âŽ9.72
$2.01āļŋ64.5
468.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2âŽ48.67
$18.23āļŋ584
213.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43âŽ9.73
$7.65āļŋ245
49.41%
Cappuccino
$1.19âŽ1.01
$1.92āļŋ61.5
-38.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82âŽ2.40
$0.84āļŋ26.97
235.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48âŽ1.26
$0.36āļŋ11.42
311.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40âŽ2.90
$2.19āļŋ70.2
55.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15âŽ4.38
$3.79āļŋ121
35.88%
ð Groceries & Markets
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11âŽ0.95
$1.64āļŋ52.5
-32.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07âŽ1.76
$1.62āļŋ52.0
27.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34âŽ1.99
$1.15āļŋ36.98
103.48%
Eggs
$1.69âŽ1.43
$1.94āļŋ62.2
-12.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.08âŽ12.83
$15.94āļŋ511
-5.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20âŽ10.38
$3.10āļŋ99.5
293.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.01âŽ15.33
$11.07āļŋ355
62.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55âŽ1.32
$2.71āļŋ86.8
-42.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77âŽ1.50
$1.18āļŋ37.80
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78âŽ1.51
$1.71āļŋ54.7
4.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25âŽ1.91
$1.61āļŋ51.5
39.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47âŽ1.25
$1.39āļŋ44.66
5.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77âŽ1.50
$1.15āļŋ36.81
53.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53âŽ1.30
$0.71āļŋ22.83
115.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34âŽ0.29
$0.55āļŋ17.65
-38.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.89âŽ5.01
$4.57āļŋ146
28.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71âŽ6.56
$18.87āļŋ605
-59.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68âŽ1.43
$1.82āļŋ58.4
-7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60âŽ1.36
$3.21āļŋ103
-50.16%
ð Getting Around
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79âŽ1.52
$0.88āļŋ28.24
103.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.92âŽ36.53
$18.89āļŋ606
127.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52âŽ3.00
$1.41āļŋ45.30
149.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.11âŽ1.79
$1.30āļŋ41.71
62.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.49âŽ24.25
$8.20āļŋ263
247.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06âŽ1.76
$1.23āļŋ39.29
67.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KâŽ25.6K
$21.2Kāļŋ678.9K
42.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KâŽ23.6K
$22.3Kāļŋ715.3K
24.30%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188âŽ160
$69.9āļŋ2,240
169.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.32âŽ12.19
$14.07āļŋ451
1.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.78âŽ26.19
$17.70āļŋ567
73.90%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2âŽ46.99
$41.41āļŋ1,328
33.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27âŽ19.80
$6.69āļŋ215
247.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.78âŽ7.47
$5.74āļŋ184
52.96%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618âŽ526
$299āļŋ9,593
106.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,085âŽ3,476
$15.0Kāļŋ481.2K
-72.78%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3âŽ58.2
$54.8āļŋ1,758
24.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.30âŽ26.64
$26.35āļŋ845
18.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.9âŽ68.9
$84.7āļŋ2,714
-4.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.2âŽ75.1
$69.7āļŋ2,236
26.53%
ð Accommodation & Living
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$746âŽ635
$427āļŋ13.7K
74.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$568âŽ483
$241āļŋ7,718
135.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,235âŽ1,051
$811āļŋ26.0K
52.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$940âŽ800
$498āļŋ16.0K
88.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,117âŽ2,653
$2,022āļŋ64.8K
54.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,370âŽ2,017
$1,524āļŋ48.9K
55.50%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,279âŽ1,089
$639āļŋ20.5K
100.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.93
5
-1.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Maria Capua Vetere: April 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $746 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere versus $427 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.
ð°Salaries run about 100% higher in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $57 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $246 â 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
Santa Maria Capua Vetere vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santa Maria Capua Vetere or Chiang Mai?
Santa Maria Capua Vetere costs about 74% 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,279 per month in Santa Maria Capua Vetere and $1,308 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Santa Maria Capua Vetere 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $618 per month in Santa Maria Capua Vetere 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Santa Maria Capua Vetere at $1,519. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Maria Capua Vetere it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Santa Maria Capua Vetere or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $1,519 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Santa Maria Capua Vetere 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Santa Maria Capua Vetere or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Maria Capua Vetere makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Santa Maria Capua Vetere vs other spots: cost of living compared