Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brno and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $1,873 in Brno, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brno
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
$1,873
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brno and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brno and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,873 in Brno versus $938 in Chiang Mai.

  • Brno $1,873
  • Chiang Mai $938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,637 in Brno versus $1,426 in Chiang Mai.

  • Brno $2,637
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,401 in Brno versus $1,914 in Chiang Mai.

  • Brno $3,401
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Living in Brno is roughly 100% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Brno is 39% above, Chiang Mai is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.29 Kč 201
$2.26 ฿75.4
311.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.42 Kč 982
$19.18 ฿641
136.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 Kč 200
$5.59 ฿187
65.12%
Cappuccino
$3.43 Kč 74.3
$1.72 ฿57.6
99.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Kč 37.10
$0.64 ฿21.54
168.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 Kč 28.24
$0.33 ฿11.18
296.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.68 Kč 58.0
$2.36 ฿78.7
13.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Kč 59.7
$3.90 ฿130
-29.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Kč 24.36
$2.05 ฿68.6
-44.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 Kč 31.42
$1.40 ฿46.70
3.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 Kč 47.93
$1.28 ฿42.89
73.44%
Eggs
$3.77 Kč 81.5
$2.25 ฿75.3
67.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.51 Kč 271
$16.94 ฿566
-26.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.13 Kč 198
$2.74 ฿91.6
233.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.27 Kč 352
$9.36 ฿313
73.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Kč 39.51
$2.40 ฿80.3
-23.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 Kč 38.41
$1.01 ฿33.92
76.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 Kč 44.09
$1.61 ฿53.9
26.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 Kč 70.9
$1.52 ฿50.7
115.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 Kč 21.90
$1.28 ฿42.90
-21.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 Kč 22.86
$1.11 ฿37.22
-4.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 Kč 35.02
$0.72 ฿24.09
125.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 Kč 16.32
$0.52 ฿17.54
44.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.18 Kč 155
$4.33 ฿145
65.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.72 Kč 145
$17.73 ฿593
-62.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 Kč 19.05
$1.63 ฿54.4
-46.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 Kč 35.25
$2.85 ฿95.3
-42.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.13 Kč 24.41
$0.85 ฿28.31
32.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.46 Kč 551
$53.9 ฿1,801
-52.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 Kč 58.9
$1.17 ฿39.18
133.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 Kč 40.26
$0.57 ฿19.00
226.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.73 Kč 362
$2.37 ฿79.2
605.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 Kč 40.41
$1.45 ฿48.32
28.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K Kč 662.6K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
49.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K Kč 632.1K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
10.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$301 Kč 6,516
$62.3 ฿2,083
383.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.34 Kč 483
$12.27 ฿410
82.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.05 Kč 412
$19.97 ฿668
-4.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.6 Kč 1,180
$37.91 ฿1,267
43.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.81 Kč 277
$3.76 ฿126
240.69%
Cinema Ticket
$12.95 Kč 280
$6.71 ฿224
93.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$748 Kč 16.2K
$797 ฿26.6K
-6.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K Kč 250.3K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-21.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.9 Kč 1,815
$53.3 ฿1,780
57.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60 Kč 791
$25.05 ฿837
46.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 Kč 2,169
$91.6 ฿3,062
9.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 Kč 2,652
$73.5 ฿2,455
66.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$981 Kč 21.2K
$464 ฿15.5K
111.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$811 Kč 17.5K
$305 ฿10.2K
166.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 Kč 33.2K
$915 ฿30.6K
67.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,224 Kč 26.5K
$552 ฿18.5K
121.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,440 Kč 139.3K
$1,912 ฿63.9K
236.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,298 Kč 114.6K
$1,438 ฿48.1K
268.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,850 Kč 40.0K
$595 ฿19.9K
210.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.67
5.57
-16.16%

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

Last update for Brno: October 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brno
$811
Chiang Mai
$305 62.5% $507
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brno
$343
Chiang Mai
$95 72.4% $248
Groceries & Markets
Brno
$268
Chiang Mai
$238 11.2% $30
Eating Out
Brno
$174
Chiang Mai
$79 54.7% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Brno
$155
Chiang Mai
$110 29.1% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Brno
$80
Chiang Mai
$51 36.2% $29
Getting Around
Brno
$42
Chiang Mai
$61 45.9% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Brno and $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brno pays 211% 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: $45.00 in Brno vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $238 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇿 Brno
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
13:32 1:32 PM
18:32 6:32 PM
5 h ahead of Brno
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
380,127
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CZK – Czech Koruna Converter

Czech Koruna exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 21.63 CZK (100 CZK = 4.62 USD). 1 EUR = 24.32 CZK (100 CZK = 4.11 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brno Chiang Mai 7,890 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brno
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Brno vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Brno?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Brno or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 211% higher in Brno, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Brno and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $981 in Brno versus $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Brno or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $45.00 in Brno. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Brno and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $1,873 per month in Brno versus $938 in Chiang Mai – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Brno or in Chiang Mai?
At $938 in Chiang Mai versus $1,873 in Brno, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Brno. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brno or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brno, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brno or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Brno 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Brno. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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