😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,090 in Cacak versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,621 in Cacak versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,151 in Cacak versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Cacak is roughly 25% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cacak19% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.28RSD 736
$1.98฿64.3
267.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.10RSD 3,955
$18.80฿612
107.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.04RSD 1,116
$7.75฿252
42.45%
Cappuccino
$1.60RSD 162
$1.92฿62.5
-16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RSD 223
$0.79฿25.79
179.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45RSD 147
$0.36฿11.62
302.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55RSD 258
$2.21฿72.1
15.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50RSD 253
$3.66฿119
-31.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27RSD 128
$1.65฿53.8
-23.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81RSD 81.8
$1.63฿53.2
-50.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80RSD 284
$1.19฿38.86
135.29%
Eggs
$2.58RSD 261
$2.00฿65.1
29.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.83RSD 388
$15.98฿520
-76.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.01RSD 709
$3.03฿98.5
131.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.68RSD 1,282
$10.86฿354
16.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.29RSD 131
$2.76฿90.0
-53.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83RSD 185
$1.18฿38.42
55.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RSD 158
$1.64฿53.5
-4.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46RSD 249
$1.52฿49.51
61.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RSD 93.8
$1.38฿45.10
-32.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95RSD 95.7
$1.19฿38.84
-20.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81RSD 81.9
$0.70฿22.86
15.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57RSD 57.6
$0.56฿18.13
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41RSD 446
$4.58฿149
-3.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.49RSD 555
$16.56฿539
-66.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RSD 91.6
$1.83฿59.5
-50.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24RSD 226
$3.20฿104
-30.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91RSD 92.0
$0.88฿28.56
3.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.02RSD 2,834
$18.72฿610
49.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.97RSD 199
$1.36฿44.16
44.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63RSD 63.9
$1.34฿43.65
-52.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.21RSD 931
$7.84฿256
17.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70RSD 172
$1.23฿39.92
38.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KRSD 2.8M
$21.6K฿704.3K
27.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KRSD 2.9M
$22.5K฿734.3K
26.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RSD 14.7K
$70.5฿2,298
106.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.79RSD 2,001
$13.68฿445
44.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79RSD 2,002
$17.45฿568
13.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.07RSD 3,142
$41.33฿1,346
-24.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.35RSD 1,654
$6.96฿227
134.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29RSD 637
$5.77฿188
9.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$346RSD 35.0K
$307฿10.0K
12.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,405RSD 748.9K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-49.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109RSD 11.0K
$55.8฿1,817
94.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.54RSD 4,707
$26.21฿854
77.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124RSD 12.5K
$85.8฿2,793
44.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137RSD 13.8K
$72.2฿2,353
89.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370RSD 37.4K
$430฿14.0K
-14.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301RSD 30.4K
$239฿7,774
26.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$559RSD 56.5K
$817฿26.6K
-31.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422RSD 42.7K
$511฿16.6K
-17.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,067RSD 209.0K
$1,983฿64.6K
4.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,499RSD 151.6K
$1,484฿48.3K
1.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$765RSD 77.4K
$619฿20.2K
23.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.31
5
46.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cacak: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $370 in Cacak and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 24% 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: $39.00 in Cacak vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $241, with Cacak cheaper for home cooking.
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
Cacak vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Cacak?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cacak or Chiang Mai?
Cacak pays 24% more on average, 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 Cacak and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $370 in Cacak versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $346 in Cacak versus $307 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Cacak and Chiang Mai?
Shoppers in Cacak pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Cacak or Chiang Mai?
At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,090 in Cacak, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Cacak. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cacak or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cacak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cacak or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Cacak 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 25% less than in Cacak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.