😐A single person spends $1,508 per month in Belgrade vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Belgrade vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,098 per month in Belgrade vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Belgrade costs about 75% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Belgrade sits 13% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.41RSD 1,269
$1.96฿65.8
533.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.13RSD 5,024
$18.35฿617
167.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.96RSD 1,223
$7.48฿252
59.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83RSD 289
$2.02฿67.8
40.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71RSD 277
$0.85฿28.50
218.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17RSD 222
$0.36฿11.96
502.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36RSD 344
$2.14฿71.8
57.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92RSD 401
$3.59฿121
9.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47RSD 150
$1.65฿55.5
-10.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94RSD 96.5
$1.57฿52.7
-40.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05RSD 312
$1.19฿40.02
156.30%
Eggs
$2.87RSD 294
$1.94฿65.1
47.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.34RSD 1,160
$16.19฿544
-29.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.48RSD 765
$2.99฿101
150.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.97RSD 1,326
$10.94฿368
18.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42RSD 145
$2.71฿91.2
-47.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90RSD 194
$1.17฿39.25
62.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96RSD 200
$1.69฿56.7
15.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.69RSD 276
$1.60฿54.0
68.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03RSD 105
$1.38฿46.54
-25.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80RSD 81.7
$1.20฿40.45
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89RSD 90.5
$0.67฿22.50
32.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RSD 80.1
$0.56฿18.73
39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53RSD 463
$4.64฿156
-2.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49RSD 868
$17.62฿593
-51.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RSD 89.8
$1.86฿62.5
-52.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60RSD 164
$3.30฿111
-51.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97RSD 99.1
$0.88฿29.68
10.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿650
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23RSD 330
$1.36฿45.90
137.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96RSD 97.9
$1.34฿44.98
-28.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.63RSD 1,803
$8.21฿276
114.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81RSD 185
$1.22฿41.18
48.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KRSD 3.2M
$21.4K฿718.1K
44.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KRSD 2.7M
$22.5K฿757.7K
16.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205RSD 21.0K
$70.7฿2,376
190.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48RSD 2,299
$14.04฿472
60.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.43RSD 3,316
$17.49฿588
85.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.00RSD 3,987
$42.15฿1,417
-7.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19RSD 2,166
$6.88฿231
207.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.04RSD 822
$5.92฿199
35.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455RSD 46.5K
$309฿10.4K
47.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,282RSD 949.0K
$14.9K฿500.4K
-37.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101RSD 10.3K
$55.8฿1,875
80.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53RSD 4,349
$26.11฿878
62.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112RSD 11.5K
$83.0฿2,792
35.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120RSD 12.3K
$70.5฿2,369
70.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$876RSD 89.6K
$432฿14.5K
102.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576RSD 58.9K
$239฿8,035
140.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,574RSD 161.0K
$822฿27.7K
91.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$999RSD 102.1K
$512฿17.2K
95.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,543RSD 566.7K
$1,915฿64.4K
189.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,206RSD 327.8K
$1,467฿49.3K
118.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,214RSD 124.2K
$579฿19.5K
109.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.59
5
11.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Belgrade: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $876 in Belgrade versus $432 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.
💰Salaries run about 110% higher in Belgrade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Belgrade versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Belgrade vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Belgrade wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Belgrade vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Belgrade and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,508 in Belgrade, $861 in Chiang Mai – roughly 75% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Belgrade compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,262 per month in Belgrade and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Belgrade and 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Belgrade and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Belgrade – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Belgrade at $1,508. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Belgrade and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $861 in Chiang Mai to $1,508 in Belgrade. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Belgrade or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Belgrade and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.