Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Belgrade Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Belgrade

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,658 in Belgrade, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,486 in Belgrade, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,313 in Belgrade, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 43% cheaper than Belgrade, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Belgrade is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$13.63 RSD 1,374
-84.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$60.1 RSD 6,055
-66.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$13.01 RSD 1,311
-55.50%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$3.18 RSD 321
-42.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$2.93 RSD 295
-73.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$2.49 RSD 251
-87.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$3.58 RSD 361
-34.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$4.05 RSD 408
-8.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$1.49 RSD 150
36.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$1.19 RSD 120
34.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$2.88 RSD 290
-50.69%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$2.84 RSD 287
-23.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$11.88 RSD 1,198
33.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$7.33 RSD 739
-58.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$16.32 RSD 1,645
-39.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$1.76 RSD 177
49.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$1.86 RSD 187
-40.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$1.90 RSD 192
-14.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$3.20 RSD 322
-52.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$0.92 RSD 93.2
34.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.73 RSD 73.3
54.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$0.82 RSD 82.2
-9.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.69 RSD 69.2
-27.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$4.78 RSD 482
-10.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$9.86 RSD 994
82.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$0.90 RSD 91.1
88.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$1.53 RSD 154
89.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$3.21 RSD 323
-61.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$1.02 RSD 103
-48.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$17.77 RSD 1,791
-86.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$1.99 RSD 200
-27.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$31.2K RSD 3.1M
-32.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$25.2K RSD 2.5M
8.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$223 RSD 22.5K
-70.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$26.22 RSD 2,642
-49.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$36.14 RSD 3,643
-42.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$42.95 RSD 4,329
-5.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
$23.54 RSD 2,372
-83.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$8.77 RSD 883
-23.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$418 RSD 42.1K
88.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$11.5K RSD 1.2M
31.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$112 RSD 11.3K
-49.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$48.51 RSD 4,889
-48.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$120 RSD 12.1K
-23.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$161 RSD 16.3K
-53.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$876 RSD 88.3K
-44.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$591 RSD 59.6K
-51.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$1,603 RSD 161.5K
-43.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$986 RSD 99.4K
-46.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
$5,708 RSD 575.3K
-65.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
$3,286 RSD 331.2K
-55.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Belgrade
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
$1,276 RSD 128.6K
-52.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.64
20.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Belgrade: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $876 in Belgrade. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 111% higher in Belgrade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $60.0 in Belgrade. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $258 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Chiang Mai vs Belgrade: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Belgrade compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $950 in Chiang Mai, $1,658 in Belgrade – roughly 74% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Belgrade?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,487 in Belgrade. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Belgrade?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $60.0 in Belgrade. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Belgrade, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Belgrade at $1,658. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Belgrade?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $950 in Chiang Mai to $1,658 in Belgrade. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Belgrade safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Belgrade?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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