😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,529 in Celje versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,149 in Celje versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,770 in Celje versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Celje is roughly 79% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Celje is 15% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.72€11.89
$2.04฿68.2
572.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1€45.99
$18.71฿624
183.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.08€7.86
$7.86฿262
15.52%
Cappuccino
$2.25€1.95
$2.03฿67.7
10.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.05
$0.80฿26.64
196.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98€1.72
$0.35฿11.68
465.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.83€2.45
$2.14฿71.5
32.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.93
$3.67฿122
-7.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.30
$1.73฿57.6
-12.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10€1.82
$1.57฿52.4
33.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.20฿39.99
95.83%
Eggs
$3.11€2.70
$1.97฿65.8
57.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.42€11.62
$16.23฿541
-17.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.92€9.45
$3.06฿102
256.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50€8.23
$10.80฿360
-12.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00€1.73
$2.77฿92.3
-27.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.50
$1.17฿38.94
47.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22€1.92
$1.71฿57.0
29.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.29€2.85
$1.59฿53.2
106.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.03
$1.39฿46.51
-15.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59€1.38
$1.16฿38.56
37.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.44
$0.66฿22.05
151.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76€0.66
$0.52฿17.31
46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.81€5.03
$4.65฿155
24.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.18€5.35
$17.78฿593
-65.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46€1.26
$1.79฿59.6
-18.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.75
$3.34฿111
-39.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43€1.24
$0.91฿30.27
57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.27€25.35
$18.64฿622
57.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25€1.95
$1.41฿47.04
59.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02€0.88
$1.34฿44.70
-23.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.62€16.99
$8.11฿270
141.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60€1.39
$1.23฿41.16
30.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K€24.6K
$21.4K฿715.1K
32.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K€25.0K
$21.8K฿728.0K
32.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250€216
$71.3฿2,379
250.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.04€7.83
$14.01฿467
-35.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.23€19.25
$17.93฿598
23.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.10€29.53
$40.82฿1,362
-16.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.76€10.19
$6.88฿230
70.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.83
$5.72฿191
58.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$548€475
$308฿10.3K
77.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K€12.3K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-3.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.8
$55.8฿1,860
83.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.72€39.59
$26.04฿869
75.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$84.8฿2,829
21.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135€117
$71.0฿2,368
90.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$553€479
$423฿14.1K
30.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479€415
$242฿8,088
97.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$974€844
$797฿26.6K
22.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580€502
$507฿16.9K
14.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,389€2,935
$1,918฿64.0K
76.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,582€2,236
$1,464฿48.8K
76.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,533€1,327
$595฿19.9K
157.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
5
-23.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Celje: July 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Celje and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Celje pays 158% 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: $53.0 in Celje vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $244 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
Celje vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Celje and in Chiang Mai?
Celje and Chiang Mai differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($1,529 vs $852 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Celje or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 158% higher in Celje, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Celje and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $553 in Celje versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Celje or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $1,529 per month in Celje versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Celje and in Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 57% less than in Celje. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,529 in Celje, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Celje. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Celje 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 Celje or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Celje 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: Celje or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Celje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.