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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,317 in Boleslawiec, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,962 in Boleslawiec, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,608 in Boleslawiec, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 34% cheaper than Boleslawiec, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Boleslawiec are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Boleslawiec 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$9.25 zł 33.79
-78.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$49.51 zł 181
-62.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$8.39 zł 30.68
-7.63%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$3.19 zł 11.67
-39.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$1.78 zł 6.52
-55.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$1.47 zł 5.37
-75.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$3.33 zł 12.17
-33.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.20 zł 11.69
14.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$1.00 zł 3.64
65.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$1.33 zł 4.85
22.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$0.94 zł 3.42
26.60%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$3.36 zł 12.26
-40.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$9.49 zł 34.67
68.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$6.54 zł 23.92
-53.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
$13.26 zł 48.48
-18.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$0.96 zł 3.49
187.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$1.74 zł 6.36
-32.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.46 zł 5.33
12.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$2.28 zł 8.32
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$0.88 zł 3.23
56.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$1.07 zł 3.89
11.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$0.97 zł 3.56
-27.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.58 zł 2.14
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$5.34 zł 19.52
-14.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$6.97 zł 25.49
137.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.13 zł 4.13
61.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$1.43 zł 5.22
123.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$1.11 zł 4.05
-20.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
$32.33 zł 118
-42.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$2.13 zł 7.79
-36.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.99 zł 3.62
35.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$13.48 zł 49.27
-41.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$1.76 zł 6.43
-30.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$33.1K zł 121.0K
-34.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$30.4K zł 111.0K
-25.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$257 zł 939
-72.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$10.55 zł 38.57
29.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$8.52 zł 31.13
104.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$21.85 zł 79.9
89.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$19.25 zł 70.4
-63.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$4.75 zł 17.34
21.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$380 zł 1,391
-19.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$2,686 zł 9,817
443.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$55.6 zł 203
0.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$31.12 zł 114
-15.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$72.5 zł 265
18.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$84.0 zł 307
-13.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$644 zł 2,355
-33.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$488 zł 1,783
-51.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$962 zł 3,518
-15.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$802 zł 2,932
-36.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$3,117 zł 11.4K
-36.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$2,366 zł 8,646
-37.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
$2,036 zł 7,441
-69.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.4
-7.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Boleslawiec: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $644 in Boleslawiec. 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 229% higher in Boleslawiec, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $50.0 in Boleslawiec. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Boleslawiec – so Boleslawiec wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Boleslawiec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boleslawiec cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Boleslawiec is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,975 in Boleslawiec. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and Boleslawiec?
Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Boleslawiec – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or Boleslawiec?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $50.0 in Boleslawiec. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Boleslawiec?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Boleslawiec at $1,317. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boleslawiec it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Boleslawiec more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Boleslawiec?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boleslawiec makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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