😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,092 in Cacak versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,625 in Cacak versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,159 in Cacak versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Cacak is roughly 28% more expensive than in 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
$7.47RSD 767
$2.04฿68.4
266.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.47RSD 4,052
$18.71฿626
110.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.73RSD 1,101
$7.86฿263
36.51%
Cappuccino
$1.63RSD 167
$2.03฿67.9
-19.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RSD 219
$0.80฿26.71
166.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44RSD 148
$0.35฿11.71
311.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.64RSD 271
$2.14฿71.7
23.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54RSD 261
$3.67฿123
-30.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26RSD 130
$1.73฿57.8
-27.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76RSD 78.4
$1.57฿52.5
-51.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81RSD 288
$1.20฿40.10
134.17%
Eggs
$2.56RSD 263
$1.97฿66.0
29.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.99RSD 410
$16.23฿543
-75.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79RSD 697
$3.06฿102
121.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.52RSD 1,285
$10.80฿361
15.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25RSD 128
$2.77฿92.6
-54.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85RSD 190
$1.17฿39.05
58.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RSD 160
$1.71฿57.1
-8.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43RSD 249
$1.59฿53.3
52.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RSD 95.8
$1.39฿46.63
-33.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88RSD 89.9
$1.16฿38.67
-24.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77RSD 78.5
$0.66฿22.11
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61RSD 62.1
$0.52฿17.35
17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34RSD 445
$4.65฿155
-6.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.42RSD 556
$17.78฿595
-69.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RSD 91.4
$1.79฿59.8
-50.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RSD 227
$3.34฿112
-33.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98RSD 100
$0.91฿30.35
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.11RSD 2,886
$18.64฿624
50.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.95RSD 200
$1.41฿47.17
38.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RSD 66.1
$1.34฿44.82
-52.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.55RSD 980
$8.11฿271
17.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68RSD 173
$1.23฿41.27
36.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KRSD 2.8M
$21.4K฿717.0K
28.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KRSD 2.9M
$21.8K฿730.0K
29.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RSD 15.0K
$71.3฿2,386
104.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.42RSD 1,994
$14.01฿469
38.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53RSD 2,005
$17.93฿600
8.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.16RSD 3,096
$40.82฿1,365
-26.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.23RSD 1,666
$6.88฿230
135.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32RSD 649
$5.72฿191
10.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$341RSD 35.0K
$308฿10.3K
10.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,344RSD 753.9K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-49.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109RSD 11.2K
$55.8฿1,865
95.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.54RSD 4,777
$26.04฿871
78.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125RSD 12.8K
$84.8฿2,837
47.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135RSD 13.9K
$71.0฿2,375
90.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380RSD 39.0K
$423฿14.2K
-10.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291RSD 29.9K
$242฿8,110
20.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555RSD 57.0K
$797฿26.7K
-30.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$412RSD 42.3K
$507฿17.0K
-18.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,177RSD 223.5K
$1,918฿64.2K
13.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,629RSD 167.2K
$1,464฿49.0K
11.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$752RSD 77.2K
$595฿19.9K
26.43%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Cacak and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 26% 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 $196 vs $244, 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 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cacak or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 26% higher in Cacak, 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: $380 in Cacak versus $423 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 $341 in Cacak versus $308 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 in Chiang Mai?
Shoppers in Cacak pay roughly 25% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cacak or in Chiang Mai?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,092 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 28% less than in Cacak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.