😐A single person spends $1,323 per month in Terni vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,999 per month in Terni vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,676 per month in Terni vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Terni costs about 53% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Terni and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Terni1% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.46€15.02
$1.94฿63.5
800.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.75€41.94
$18.64฿609
161.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.92€8.54
$7.82฿255
26.85%
Cappuccino
$1.87€1.61
$1.95฿63.8
-4.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72€2.34
$0.85฿27.77
220.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.13
$0.35฿11.58
274.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.36€4.61
$2.13฿69.6
151.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24€4.51
$3.73฿122
40.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.71฿56.0
-26.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.83
$1.63฿53.2
30.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37€2.04
$1.14฿37.15
107.89%
Eggs
$3.32€2.86
$1.93฿63.1
72.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.35
$16.21฿530
-18.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.09
$3.12฿102
201.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.78€11.85
$10.90฿356
26.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$2.75฿90.0
-18.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88€1.62
$1.21฿39.52
55.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14€0.98
$1.62฿53.0
-29.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28€1.96
$1.59฿51.8
43.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62€1.40
$1.40฿45.70
15.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.17฿38.17
47.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84€0.72
$0.66฿21.60
27.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41€0.36
$0.53฿17.22
-22.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40€5.51
$4.69฿153
36.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.18€7.04
$18.66฿609
-56.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.80฿58.8
-23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$3.23฿106
-48.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67€1.43
$0.90฿29.26
85.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.26€29.47
$19.21฿628
78.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.00€4.30
$1.41฿45.91
254.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37€1.17
$1.29฿42.12
6.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.43€21.88
$7.84฿256
224.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.74
$1.27฿41.58
59.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K€29.6K
$21.3K฿694.9K
61.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K€28.3K
$22.2K฿725.4K
48.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176€152
$69.1฿2,256
155.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.16€12.18
$14.08฿460
0.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.06€26.72
$18.00฿588
72.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1€45.66
$41.06฿1,341
29.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.00€14.63
$6.96฿227
144.25%
Cinema Ticket
$10.26€8.83
$5.92฿193
73.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353€304
$299฿9,766
17.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,880€5,058
$15.0K฿488.3K
-60.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.3€57.1
$54.7฿1,787
21.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.02€30.13
$26.77฿874
30.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7€77.1
$85.0฿2,776
5.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9€76.5
$70.6฿2,306
25.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$352€303
$428฿14.0K
-17.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353€304
$237฿7,752
48.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$744€640
$801฿26.2K
-7.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564€485
$515฿16.8K
9.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,383€1,189
$1,975฿64.5K
-29.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$806€693
$1,475฿48.2K
-45.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,554€1,336
$617฿20.2K
151.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.69
5
-26.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Terni: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $352 in Terni 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 152% higher in Terni, 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 $49.00 in Terni versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 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
Terni vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Terni or Chiang Mai?
Terni costs about 53% 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 Terni vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,984 per month in Terni 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, Terni 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 Terni and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $353 per month in Terni 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 Terni or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Terni, 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 Terni or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Terni at $1,323. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Terni it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Terni or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,323 in Terni. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Terni 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 Terni or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Terni makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.