😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,478 in Bjelovar versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Bjelovar versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,131 in Bjelovar versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Bjelovar is roughly 70% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bjelovar is 10% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.82€11.05
$1.98฿64.3
547.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€59.0
$18.80฿612
264.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.52€9.07
$7.75฿252
35.74%
Cappuccino
$2.23€1.92
$1.92฿62.5
16.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.09
$0.79฿25.79
353.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.87
$0.36฿11.62
502.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.29€3.70
$2.21฿72.1
94.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83€4.16
$3.66฿119
31.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.03
$1.65฿53.8
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57€1.35
$1.63฿53.2
-3.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.97€3.42
$1.19฿38.86
233.61%
Eggs
$3.53€3.04
$2.00฿65.1
76.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.11€13.88
$15.98฿520
0.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.10€9.56
$3.03฿98.5
266.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.41€12.42
$10.86฿354
32.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60€1.38
$2.76฿90.0
-42.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67€1.44
$1.18฿38.42
41.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.64฿53.5
5.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$1.52฿49.51
64.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24€1.07
$1.38฿45.10
-10.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27€1.09
$1.19฿38.84
6.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09€0.94
$0.70฿22.86
55.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.05
$0.56฿18.13
117.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86€5.05
$4.58฿149
27.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.06€6.95
$16.56฿539
-51.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.37
$1.83฿59.5
-12.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.75
$3.20฿104
-36.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.53
$0.88฿28.56
102.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.24€37.26
$18.72฿610
130.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02€2.60
$1.36฿44.16
122.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37€1.18
$1.34฿43.65
2.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.11€7.85
$7.84฿256
16.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63€1.40
$1.23฿39.92
32.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.2K
$21.6K฿704.3K
78.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€22.9K
$22.5K฿734.3K
17.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190€164
$70.5฿2,298
169.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15€19.08
$13.68฿445
61.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.66€28.14
$17.45฿568
87.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5€45.27
$41.33฿1,346
27.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.58€12.56
$6.96฿227
109.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.17€7.90
$5.77฿188
58.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$294€253
$307฿10.0K
-4.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,148€7,020
$14.6K฿475.9K
-44.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4€49.43
$55.8฿1,817
2.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.62€29.83
$26.21฿854
32.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€86.2
$85.8฿2,793
16.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€89.7
$72.2฿2,353
44.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658€567
$430฿14.0K
53.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457€394
$239฿7,774
91.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,049€904
$817฿26.6K
28.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788€679
$511฿16.6K
54.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,720€3,205
$1,983฿64.6K
87.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,450€2,973
$1,484฿48.3K
132.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bjelovar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.63
5
-7.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bjelovar: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $658 in Bjelovar and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Bjelovar vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $296 vs $241 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
Bjelovar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bjelovar and Chiang Mai?
Bjelovar and Chiang Mai differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,478 vs $869 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bjelovar compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $2,217 in Bjelovar and $1,303 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Bjelovar and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $658 in Bjelovar versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $69.0 in Bjelovar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bjelovar or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $1,478 per month in Bjelovar versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,478 in Bjelovar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bjelovar. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bjelovar and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bjelovar or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bjelovar 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.
Where should expats move: Bjelovar or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Bjelovar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.