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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,229 in Belišće.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,854 in Belišće.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $2,479 in Belišće.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 30% less than in Belišće, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Belišće 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.9
$8.34 €7.30
-76.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$40.14 €35.12
-54.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$6.75 €5.90
10.81%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$2.04 €1.78
-0.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.52
$2.33 €2.04
-63.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.97
$2.01 €1.76
-82.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.9
$2.29 €2.00
-6.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$2.27 €1.98
58.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$0.95 €0.83
73.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$0.72 €0.63
118.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.05
$2.91 €2.54
-59.11%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$3.09 €2.71
-37.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿545
$10.96 €9.59
47.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$7.63 €6.68
-60.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$11.02 €9.64
-0.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$1.18 €1.03
129.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.27
$1.35 €1.18
-13.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.8
$1.57 €1.37
7.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$2.55 €2.23
-37.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.94 €0.82
46.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.47
$1.20 €1.05
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.51
$1.20 €1.05
-44.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.74
$0.93 €0.81
-39.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$5.64 €4.93
-17.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$8.24 €7.21
113.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.6
$1.15 €1.00
61.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$1.97 €1.72
67.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.70
$1.76 €1.54
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿651
$43.03 €37.65
-55.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.92
$3.87 €3.39
-64.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿45.00
$1.15 €1.00
16.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$5.94 €5.20
38.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.20
$1.68 €1.47
-27.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.5K
$31.8K €27.9K
-32.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿758.1K
$26.9K €23.6K
-16.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,378
$123 €108
-42.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$18.05 €15.79
-22.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿589
$26.22 €22.94
-33.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,418
$25.54 €22.35
65.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$14.85 €12.99
-53.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$5.18 €4.53
14.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$346 €303
-10.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.7K
$2,722 €2,382
446.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,876
$121 €106
-54.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿879
$43.76 €38.28
-40.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,793
$46.48 €40.67
78.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,371
$58.8 €51.4
19.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$192 €168
124.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,040
$466 €408
-48.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$344 €301
139.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$783 €685
-34.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$3,701 €3,238
-48.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.4K
$1,187 €1,038
23.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Belišće
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$1,793 €1,569
-67.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3.2
56.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Belišće: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $192 in Belišće. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Belišće pays 209% 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: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $40.00 in Belišće. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $225, with Belišće 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
Chiang Mai vs Belišće: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chiang Mai and in Belišće?
Chiang Mai and Belišće differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $1,229 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 209% lower in Belišće. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Belišće?
Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $192 in Belišće. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chiang Mai and Belišće?
Childcare runs $309 in Chiang Mai versus $346 in Belišće. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Belišće pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $800 go in Chiang Mai compared to Belišće?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Belišće?
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 Chiang Mai or Belišće safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Belišće 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: Chiang Mai or Belišće?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Belišće. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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