😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,657 in Augustow versus $932 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,493 in Augustow versus $1,399 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,330 in Augustow versus $1,866 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Augustow is roughly 78% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Augustow is 21% above, Chiang Mai is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.79zł 48.57
$2.08฿69.3
514.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4zł 241
$19.61฿653
223.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.52zł 39.95
$5.67฿189
85.54%
Cappuccino
$4.54zł 17.25
$1.81฿60.1
150.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53zł 9.59
$0.77฿25.58
228.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31zł 8.77
$0.35฿11.49
560.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.66zł 17.70
$2.21฿73.7
110.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39zł 20.46
$3.79฿126
42.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13zł 4.30
$2.05฿68.2
-44.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59zł 6.03
$1.51฿50.4
5.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81zł 6.88
$1.40฿46.57
29.29%
Eggs
$3.96zł 15.04
$2.26฿75.2
75.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.73zł 36.94
$16.19฿539
-39.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.36zł 27.93
$2.90฿96.4
153.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.41zł 58.5
$9.42฿314
63.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.27zł 4.81
$2.68฿89.2
-52.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76zł 6.70
$1.09฿36.28
61.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77zł 6.70
$1.62฿53.8
9.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.06zł 15.43
$1.46฿48.61
178.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87zł 3.31
$1.28฿42.54
-32.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96zł 3.63
$1.06฿35.21
-9.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49zł 5.64
$0.72฿23.88
106.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72zł 2.75
$0.53฿17.51
35.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52zł 24.74
$4.23฿141
54.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.50zł 24.69
$18.29฿609
-64.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17zł 4.44
$1.63฿54.3
-28.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88zł 7.16
$2.90฿96.6
-35.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13zł 4.30
$0.88฿29.24
28.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.66zł 116
$53.8฿1,790
-42.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69zł 10.22
$1.17฿39.04
129.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30zł 4.93
$0.58฿19.25
124.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.25zł 50.3
$2.39฿79.4
454.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78zł 6.74
$1.45฿48.28
22.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1Kzł 122.0K
$21.0K฿699.5K
52.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3Kzł 118.7K
$26.4K฿879.7K
18.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$374zł 1,419
$63.7฿2,119
487.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.05zł 34.35
$12.89฿429
-29.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.25zł 65.5
$20.52฿683
-15.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.30zł 168
$39.02฿1,299
13.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.36zł 81.1
$3.92฿130
444.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89zł 37.53
$6.58฿219
50.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$617zł 2,342
$784฿26.1K
-21.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8Kzł 60.2K
$14.7K฿488.4K
8.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115zł 435
$55.1฿1,835
108.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.04zł 163
$24.74฿824
73.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111zł 420
$94.1฿3,133
17.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122zł 463
$74.0฿2,462
65.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650zł 2,467
$490฿16.3K
32.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$489zł 1,856
$288฿9,594
69.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$915zł 3,473
$891฿29.7K
2.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$906zł 3,441
$521฿17.3K
73.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,002zł 11.4K
$1,974฿65.7K
52.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,299zł 8,727
$1,444฿48.1K
59.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,529zł 5,805
$602฿20.0K
154.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.65
5.57
19.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Augustow: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $650 in Augustow and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Augustow pays 154% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Augustow vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $241 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
Augustow vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Augustow or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Augustow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Augustow or in Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 154% higher in Augustow, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Augustow compared to Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $650 in Augustow versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Augustow and in Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $617 in Augustow versus $784 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Augustow or in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Augustow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Augustow or in Chiang Mai?
At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,657 in Augustow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Augustow. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Augustow or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $932 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Augustow compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Augustow and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Augustow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.