😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,571 in Augustow versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,298 in Augustow versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,025 in Augustow versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Augustow is roughly 82% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Augustow is 18% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.83zł 41.10
$1.96฿65.8
452.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9zł 216
$18.35฿617
210.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.54zł 36.19
$7.48฿252
27.54%
Cappuccino
$4.20zł 15.92
$2.02฿67.8
107.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07zł 7.87
$0.85฿28.50
143.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85zł 7.01
$0.36฿11.96
413.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43zł 16.80
$2.14฿71.8
107.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52zł 17.13
$3.59฿121
25.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15zł 4.38
$1.65฿55.5
-30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42zł 5.39
$1.57฿52.7
-9.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80zł 6.82
$1.19฿40.02
51.26%
Eggs
$3.51zł 13.32
$1.94฿65.1
80.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.18zł 38.64
$16.19฿544
-37.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.14zł 27.10
$2.99฿101
138.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.07zł 53.4
$10.94฿368
28.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26zł 4.77
$2.71฿91.2
-53.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85zł 7.01
$1.17฿39.25
58.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93zł 7.33
$1.69฿56.7
14.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64zł 13.80
$1.60฿54.0
127.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09zł 4.12
$1.38฿46.54
-21.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19zł 4.53
$1.20฿40.45
-0.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51zł 5.72
$0.67฿22.50
125.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69zł 2.61
$0.56฿18.73
23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36zł 20.33
$4.64฿156
15.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.87zł 29.87
$17.62฿593
-55.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37zł 5.19
$1.86฿62.5
-26.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92zł 7.29
$3.30฿111
-41.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 4.04
$0.88฿29.68
20.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.96zł 125
$19.34฿650
70.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.78zł 10.55
$1.36฿45.90
104.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03zł 3.90
$1.34฿44.98
-23.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.75zł 52.2
$8.21฿276
67.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71zł 6.49
$1.22฿41.18
40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1Kzł 125.7K
$21.4K฿718.1K
55.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8Kzł 124.6K
$22.5K฿757.7K
45.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$364zł 1,380
$70.7฿2,376
414.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.93zł 37.69
$14.04฿472
-29.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11zł 64.9
$17.49฿588
-2.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.76zł 136
$42.15฿1,417
-15.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.81zł 75.2
$6.88฿231
187.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.24zł 35.08
$5.92฿199
56.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$578zł 2,193
$309฿10.4K
87.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8Kzł 60.1K
$14.9K฿500.4K
6.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.9zł 371
$55.8฿1,875
75.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.77zł 181
$26.11฿878
82.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2zł 350
$83.0฿2,792
11.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108zł 410
$70.5฿2,369
53.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648zł 2,460
$432฿14.5K
50.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$491zł 1,864
$239฿8,035
105.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$964zł 3,658
$822฿27.7K
17.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$814zł 3,087
$512฿17.2K
58.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,050zł 11.6K
$1,915฿64.4K
59.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,235zł 8,481
$1,467฿49.3K
52.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Augustow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,485zł 5,635
$579฿19.5K
156.36%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $648 in Augustow and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Augustow pays 156% 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: $57.0 in Augustow vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $243 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 82% 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 156% 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: $648 in Augustow versus $432 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 $578 in Augustow versus $309 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 1% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,571 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 $861 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 82% less than in Augustow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.