😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,621 in Augustow versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,358 in Augustow versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Augustow versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Augustow is roughly 87% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Augustow is 21% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02zł 40.17
$1.94฿63.5
468.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1zł 212
$18.64฿609
211.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33zł 34.04
$7.82฿255
19.31%
Cappuccino
$4.28zł 15.59
$1.95฿63.8
119.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12zł 7.71
$0.85฿27.77
149.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88zł 6.86
$0.35฿11.58
437.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.42zł 16.13
$2.13฿69.6
107.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53zł 16.52
$3.73฿122
21.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15zł 4.19
$1.71฿56.0
-32.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40zł 5.11
$1.63฿53.2
-14.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86zł 6.77
$1.14฿37.15
63.16%
Eggs
$3.67zł 13.37
$1.93฿63.1
90.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.21zł 37.23
$16.21฿530
-37.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.83zł 24.92
$3.12฿102
118.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.38zł 52.4
$10.90฿356
31.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25zł 4.55
$2.75฿90.0
-54.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87zł 6.83
$1.21฿39.52
54.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95zł 7.12
$1.62฿53.0
20.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67zł 13.38
$1.59฿51.8
130.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10zł 3.99
$1.40฿45.70
-21.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20zł 4.37
$1.17฿38.17
2.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50zł 5.46
$0.66฿21.60
127.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69zł 2.51
$0.53฿17.22
30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36zł 19.56
$4.69฿153
14.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.27zł 30.15
$18.66฿609
-55.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39zł 5.06
$1.80฿58.8
-22.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95zł 7.10
$3.23฿106
-39.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12zł 4.09
$0.90฿29.26
24.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.12zł 117
$19.21฿628
67.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76zł 10.08
$1.41฿45.91
95.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03zł 3.75
$1.29฿42.12
-20.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.45zł 49.04
$7.84฿256
71.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72zł 6.27
$1.27฿41.58
35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2Kzł 121.0K
$21.3K฿694.9K
55.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4Kzł 121.9K
$22.2K฿725.4K
50.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$355zł 1,295
$69.1฿2,256
414.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.06zł 36.69
$14.08฿460
-28.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.07zł 62.2
$18.00฿588
-5.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.81zł 134
$41.06฿1,341
-10.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.63zł 71.6
$6.96฿227
182.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.23zł 33.65
$5.92฿193
55.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$585zł 2,134
$299฿9,766
95.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kzł 56.7K
$15.0K฿488.3K
4.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.1zł 358
$54.7฿1,787
79.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.93zł 171
$26.77฿874
75.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8zł 342
$85.0฿2,776
10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110zł 400
$70.6฿2,306
55.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640zł 2,332
$428฿14.0K
49.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$502zł 1,831
$237฿7,752
111.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$993zł 3,622
$801฿26.2K
23.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$816zł 2,976
$515฿16.8K
58.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,062zł 11.2K
$1,975฿64.5K
55.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,323zł 8,470
$1,475฿48.2K
57.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,567zł 5,713
$617฿20.2K
153.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.05
5
41.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Augustow: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $640 in Augustow and $428 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: $58.0 in Augustow vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $246, with Augustow cheaper for home cooking.
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 87% 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 Chiang Mai?
Augustow pays 154% more on average, 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 vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $640 in Augustow versus $428 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 Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $585 in Augustow versus $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% 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 Chiang Mai?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,621 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 $866 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 87% less than in Augustow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.