Chiang Mai vs Funchal: cost of living for digital nomads

Chiang Mai, Thailand and Funchal, Portugal, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Funchal for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,700).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Chiang Mai against $850 in Funchal.
  • Funchal scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
  • Internet is faster in Chiang Mai: 210 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Chiang Mai is tropical; Funchal is mediterranean.

Chiang Mai wins 6 of the measured lines; Funchal wins 1.

LineChiang MaiFunchal
Monthly total (USD)$1,100$1,700
Rent$400$850
Food$320$430
Transport$40$40
Coworking$100$120
Safety (out of 10)8/109/10
Internet (Mbps)210100
Climatetropicalmediterranean
City sizemidmid
Settinginlandisland
Nomad score (out of 10)10/108/10

Funchal

Madeira's capital and home of the original Digital Nomad Village — safe, scenic, EU-based.

Compare Chiang Mai with

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.