😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,516 in Celje versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,154 in Celje versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,792 in Celje versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Celje is roughly 74% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Celje is 13% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.65€11.76
$1.98฿64.3
589.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0€44.79
$18.80฿612
176.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.16€7.90
$7.75฿252
18.19%
Cappuccino
$2.28€1.96
$1.92฿62.5
18.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.79฿25.79
196.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.71
$0.36฿11.62
452.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82€2.43
$2.21฿72.1
27.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.05
$3.66฿119
-3.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48€1.27
$1.65฿53.8
-10.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17€1.87
$1.63฿53.2
33.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25€1.93
$1.19฿38.86
89.08%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$2.00฿65.1
56.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.26€11.43
$15.98฿520
-17.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.95€9.44
$3.03฿98.5
261.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.08€7.82
$10.86฿354
-16.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.76฿90.0
-27.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$1.18฿38.42
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13€1.83
$1.64฿53.5
29.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22€2.77
$1.52฿49.51
111.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17€1.01
$1.38฿45.10
-15.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63€1.40
$1.19฿38.84
36.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.43
$0.70฿22.86
137.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.66
$0.56฿18.13
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92€5.10
$4.58฿149
29.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.46€5.56
$16.56฿539
-60.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.83฿59.5
-24.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.77
$3.20฿104
-35.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.21
$0.88฿28.56
60.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.69
$18.72฿610
53.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32€2.00
$1.36฿44.16
70.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01€0.87
$1.34฿43.65
-24.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.74€17.01
$7.84฿256
151.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60€1.38
$1.23฿39.92
30.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€24.8K
$21.6K฿704.3K
33.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K€25.0K
$22.5K฿734.3K
28.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$247€213
$70.5฿2,298
249.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42€8.12
$13.68฿445
-31.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.96€18.92
$17.45฿568
25.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.55€29.77
$41.33฿1,346
-16.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.77€10.14
$6.96฿227
69.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.28€8.00
$5.77฿188
60.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$549€473
$307฿10.0K
78.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K€12.2K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-2.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.6
$55.8฿1,817
82.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.42€39.99
$26.21฿854
77.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.8
$85.8฿2,793
21.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€117
$72.2฿2,353
88.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$565€487
$430฿14.0K
31.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$473€408
$239฿7,774
98.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978€842
$817฿26.6K
19.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$577€498
$511฿16.6K
13.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,443€2,966
$1,983฿64.6K
73.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,685€2,313
$1,484฿48.3K
80.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Celje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,569€1,352
$619฿20.2K
153.53%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $565 in Celje and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Celje pays 154% 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: $52.0 in Celje vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $241 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 Chiang Mai?
Celje and Chiang Mai differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($1,516 vs $869 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?
Celje pays 154% more on average, 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 Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $565 in Celje versus $430 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 $1,516 per month in Celje versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Celje and Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 53% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,516 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 74% less than in Celje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.