😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,096 in Cacak versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Cacak versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,186 in Cacak versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Cacak is roughly 29% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cacak18% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35RSD 737
$1.96฿63.6
275.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84RSD 3,894
$18.81฿611
106.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.91RSD 1,093
$7.92฿258
37.75%
Cappuccino
$1.55RSD 155
$1.91฿62.2
-18.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12RSD 213
$0.84฿27.25
152.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44RSD 144
$0.35฿11.44
311.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52RSD 253
$2.21฿71.7
14.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64RSD 265
$3.80฿124
-30.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30RSD 130
$1.64฿53.2
-20.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76RSD 76.0
$1.62฿52.8
-53.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81RSD 282
$1.18฿38.40
138.14%
Eggs
$2.70RSD 270
$2.01฿65.4
34.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.93RSD 394
$15.89฿517
-75.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.82RSD 684
$3.01฿98.0
126.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.82RSD 1,286
$10.77฿350
19.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30RSD 130
$2.61฿85.0
-50.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90RSD 191
$1.22฿39.65
55.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RSD 156
$1.70฿55.4
-8.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.56RSD 257
$1.58฿51.2
62.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01RSD 101
$1.32฿42.89
-23.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94RSD 94.4
$1.17฿38.01
-19.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81RSD 80.8
$0.67฿21.85
20.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57RSD 56.9
$0.56฿18.21
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56RSD 457
$4.53฿147
0.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58RSD 559
$18.20฿592
-69.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85RSD 85.3
$1.83฿59.6
-53.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20RSD 221
$3.23฿105
-31.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99RSD 99.0
$0.89฿28.83
11.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.80RSD 2,787
$19.38฿630
43.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.99RSD 199
$1.35฿43.95
47.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69RSD 69.0
$1.35฿43.79
-48.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.32RSD 934
$8.25฿268
12.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71RSD 172
$1.27฿41.40
34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4KRSD 2.8M
$21.2K฿687.8K
29.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KRSD 2.9M
$22.5K฿731.0K
27.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RSD 14.7K
$70.2฿2,281
108.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67RSD 1,973
$13.77฿448
42.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.90RSD 1,996
$17.60฿572
13.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.90RSD 3,098
$41.57฿1,352
-25.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.48RSD 1,652
$6.60฿215
149.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.25RSD 627
$5.78฿188
8.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$339RSD 34.0K
$306฿9,953
10.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,268RSD 728.7K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-50.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107RSD 10.7K
$54.4฿1,768
96.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.26RSD 4,638
$26.14฿850
76.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125RSD 12.6K
$84.5฿2,748
48.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141RSD 14.1K
$69.4฿2,257
102.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$373RSD 37.4K
$424฿13.8K
-11.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$294RSD 29.4K
$238฿7,743
23.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574RSD 57.6K
$825฿26.8K
-30.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$416RSD 41.7K
$515฿16.7K
-19.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,139RSD 214.4K
$2,049฿66.6K
4.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,578RSD 158.2K
$1,523฿49.5K
3.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$757RSD 75.9K
$635฿20.6K
19.18%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $373 in Cacak and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 19% 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 $199 vs $243, 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cacak or Chiang Mai?
Cacak pays 19% 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: $373 in Cacak versus $424 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 $339 in Cacak versus $306 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 $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,096 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 29% less than in Cacak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.