Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,405 per month in Bialystok vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,014 per month in Bialystok vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,622 per month in Bialystok vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bialystok costs about 62% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bialystok sits 5% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.65 zł 35.19

$1.94 ฿63.5

397.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.53 zł 177

$18.64 ฿609

160.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.01 zł 29.21

$7.82 ฿255

2.43%

Cappuccino

$3.11 zł 11.33

$1.95 ฿63.8

59.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 zł 7.01

$0.85 ฿27.77

125.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 zł 5.93

$0.35 ฿11.58

365.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 zł 12.23

$2.13 ฿69.6

57.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 zł 10.95

$3.73 ฿122

-19.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 zł 3.76

$1.71 ฿56.0

-39.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 zł 4.31

$1.63 ฿53.2

-27.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 zł 4.25

$1.14 ฿37.15

2.63%

Eggs

$3.04 zł 11.07

$1.93 ฿63.1

57.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.45 zł 30.78

$16.21 ฿530

-47.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.00 zł 21.86

$3.12 ฿102

92.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.64 zł 38.80

$10.90 ฿356

-2.39%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 zł 3.27

$2.75 ฿90.0

-67.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 zł 6.29

$1.21 ฿39.52

42.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 zł 6.31

$1.62 ฿53.0

6.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 zł 7.72

$1.59 ฿51.8

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 zł 3.36

$1.40 ฿45.70

-34.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 zł 3.72

$1.17 ฿38.17

-12.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 zł 4.37

$0.66 ฿21.60

81.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 zł 2.18

$0.53 ฿17.22

13.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 zł 19.33

$4.69 ฿153

13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.64 zł 24.22

$18.66 ฿609

-64.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 zł 4.53

$1.80 ฿58.8

-31.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 zł 5.88

$3.23 ฿106

-50.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 zł 3.86

$0.90 ฿29.26

17.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.70 zł 130

$19.21 ฿628

85.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 zł 7.79

$1.41 ฿45.91

51.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 zł 1.78

$1.29 ฿42.12

-62.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.39 zł 45.17

$7.84 ฿256

58.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 zł 6.09

$1.27 ฿41.58

31.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.2K zł 124.6K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

60.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.6K zł 108.0K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

33.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$308 zł 1,122

$69.1 ฿2,256

345.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.13 zł 29.62

$14.08 ฿460

-42.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.79 zł 61.2

$18.00 ฿588

-6.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.15 zł 135

$41.06 ฿1,341

-9.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.18 zł 69.9

$6.96 ฿227

175.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 zł 25.24

$5.92 ฿193

16.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$339 zł 1,234

$299 ฿9,766

13.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,355 zł 34.1K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-37.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.0 zł 335

$54.7 ฿1,787

68.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.51 zł 111

$26.77 ฿874

13.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 zł 271

$85.0 ฿2,776

-12.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 zł 344

$70.6 ฿2,306

33.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$533 zł 1,942

$428 ฿14.0K

24.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 zł 1,768

$237 ฿7,752

104.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$855 zł 3,117

$801 ฿26.2K

6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 zł 2,638

$515 ฿16.8K

40.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,809 zł 10.2K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

42.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,480 zł 9,042

$1,475 ฿48.2K

68.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,569 zł 5,720

$617 ฿20.2K

154.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

29.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bialystok: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $533 in Bialystok 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 154% higher in Bialystok, 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 Bialystok versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Bialystok vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Bialystok 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

Bialystok vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bialystok costs about 62% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,107 per month in Bialystok and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $339 per month in Bialystok and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Bialystok – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Bialystok at $1,405. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bialystok it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,405 in Bialystok. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bialystok makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.