😐A single person spends $1,517 per month in Belgrade vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,312 per month in Belgrade vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,108 per month in Belgrade vs $1,835 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 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.19RSD 1,228
$1.94฿63.5
528.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.60RSD 4,999
$18.64฿609
166.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.68RSD 1,177
$7.82฿255
49.36%
Cappuccino
$2.86RSD 288
$1.95฿63.8
46.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70RSD 272
$0.85฿27.77
217.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17RSD 219
$0.35฿11.58
520.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55RSD 358
$2.13฿69.6
66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RSD 405
$3.73฿122
7.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52RSD 153
$1.71฿56.0
-11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92RSD 92.7
$1.63฿53.2
-43.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05RSD 308
$1.14฿37.15
167.54%
Eggs
$2.85RSD 288
$1.93฿63.1
47.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.46RSD 1,155
$16.21฿530
-29.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.46RSD 752
$3.12฿102
139.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.96RSD 1,306
$10.90฿356
18.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.41RSD 142
$2.75฿90.0
-48.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89RSD 191
$1.21฿39.52
56.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96RSD 198
$1.62฿53.0
20.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78RSD 280
$1.59฿51.8
74.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03RSD 104
$1.40฿45.70
-26.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75RSD 76.1
$1.17฿38.17
-35.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89RSD 89.3
$0.66฿21.60
34.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RSD 79.1
$0.53฿17.22
47.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.66RSD 470
$4.69฿153
-0.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.65RSD 972
$18.66฿609
-48.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RSD 87.5
$1.80฿58.8
-51.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51RSD 153
$3.23฿106
-53.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98RSD 98.5
$0.90฿29.26
8.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09RSD 312
$1.41฿45.91
119.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RSD 90.3
$1.29฿42.12
-30.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.87RSD 1,801
$7.84฿256
127.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83RSD 185
$1.27฿41.58
44.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KRSD 3.1M
$21.3K฿694.9K
45.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRSD 2.7M
$22.2K฿725.4K
21.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210RSD 21.1K
$69.1฿2,256
203.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.09RSD 2,226
$14.08฿460
56.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.98RSD 3,324
$18.00฿588
83.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.57RSD 3,887
$41.06฿1,341
-6.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.97RSD 2,114
$6.96฿227
201.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.70RSD 776
$5.92฿193
30.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449RSD 45.3K
$299฿9,766
50.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,106RSD 917.7K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-39.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100RSD 10.1K
$54.7฿1,787
83.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.41RSD 4,274
$26.77฿874
58.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113RSD 11.4K
$85.0฿2,776
32.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118RSD 11.9K
$70.6฿2,306
67.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$852RSD 85.9K
$428฿14.0K
98.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571RSD 57.5K
$237฿7,752
140.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569RSD 158.1K
$801฿26.2K
95.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,024RSD 103.2K
$515฿16.8K
98.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,218RSD 525.9K
$1,975฿64.5K
164.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,155RSD 318.0K
$1,475฿48.2K
113.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,234RSD 124.4K
$617฿20.2K
99.91%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $852 in Belgrade versus $428 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 100% 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 $50.0 in Belgrade versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Belgrade vs $246 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 Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,517 in Belgrade, $866 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 $2,275 per month in Belgrade and $1,300 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 $50.0 in Belgrade and $19.00 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 $866, than in Belgrade at $1,517. 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 $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,517 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.