😐A single person spends $1,433 per month in Vasto vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,047 per month in Vasto vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,661 per month in Vasto vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Vasto costs about 65% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Vasto sits 7% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.61€13.45
$1.94฿63.6
704.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.78€39.42
$18.64฿609
145.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.38€9.80
$7.82฿256
45.52%
Cappuccino
$1.40€1.21
$1.95฿63.9
-28.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.93
$0.85฿27.80
164.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.99
$0.35฿11.60
228.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€3.96
$2.13฿69.7
115.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13€4.42
$3.73฿122
37.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72€1.48
$1.71฿56.0
0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19€1.88
$1.63฿53.3
34.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.10€2.67
$1.14฿37.18
171.93%
Eggs
$2.85€2.45
$1.93฿63.2
47.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.73€10.10
$16.21฿530
-27.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.73€10.10
$3.12฿102
275.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.33€17.51
$10.90฿356
86.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75€1.51
$2.75฿90.1
-36.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15€0.99
$1.21฿39.56
-4.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.62฿53.0
24.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$1.59฿51.9
61.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.40฿45.75
23.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06€0.91
$1.17฿38.20
-9.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25€1.08
$0.66฿21.62
89.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44€0.38
$0.53฿17.24
-16.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.21€5.35
$4.69฿153
32.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.59€3.95
$18.66฿610
-75.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$1.80฿58.8
-37.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.27
$3.23฿106
-54.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$0.90฿29.28
98.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.37€31.32
$19.21฿628
89.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.57€3.93
$1.41฿45.96
224.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38€1.19
$1.29฿42.16
6.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.62€24.64
$7.84฿256
265.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.72
$1.27฿41.62
57.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K€22.0K
$21.3K฿695.5K
19.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K€22.3K
$22.2K฿726.1K
16.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165€142
$69.1฿2,258
138.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.98€9.46
$14.08฿460
-22.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.22€25.17
$18.00฿588
62.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.17€35.45
$41.06฿1,342
0.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.44€15.02
$6.96฿227
150.57%
Cinema Ticket
$7.96€6.85
$5.92฿193
34.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$534€460
$299฿9,775
78.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,019€3,461
$15.0K฿488.8K
-73.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.7€64.3
$54.7฿1,788
36.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.42€25.33
$26.77฿875
9.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3€60.5
$85.0฿2,778
-17.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3€78.6
$70.6฿2,308
29.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$704€606
$428฿14.0K
64.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$455€392
$237฿7,759
91.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$864€744
$801฿26.2K
7.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$568€489
$515฿16.9K
10.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,994€3,439
$1,975฿64.5K
102.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,306€1,986
$1,475฿48.2K
56.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vasto
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
5
-21.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vasto: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $704 in Vasto 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Vasto versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 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
Vasto vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vasto or Chiang Mai?
Vasto costs about 65% 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 Vasto vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,150 per month in Vasto 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, Vasto 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 Vasto and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $534 per month in Vasto 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 Vasto or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Vasto, 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 Vasto or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Vasto at $1,433. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vasto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vasto or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,433 in Vasto. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Vasto 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 Vasto or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vasto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.