🙂A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,376 in Boleslawiec, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,024 in Boleslawiec, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,672 in Boleslawiec, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 32% cheaper than Boleslawiec, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Boleslawiec is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.3
$9.41zł 35.73
-77.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿653
$47.33zł 180
-58.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$8.62zł 32.74
-34.22%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.1
$3.04zł 11.55
-40.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.58
$1.91zł 7.25
-59.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.49
$1.52zł 5.77
-76.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.7
$3.17zł 12.03
-30.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿126
$3.24zł 12.30
16.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.2
$0.95zł 3.59
115.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.4
$1.32zł 5.00
14.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.57
$1.11zł 4.20
26.13%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.2
$3.41zł 12.95
-33.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿539
$9.73zł 36.94
66.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.4
$6.55zł 24.88
-55.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
$13.21zł 50.2
-28.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.2
$0.96zł 3.64
179.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.28
$1.74zł 6.60
-37.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.8
$1.60zł 6.08
1.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.61
$2.54zł 9.64
-42.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.54
$0.89zł 3.36
43.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.21
$1.13zł 4.30
-6.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.88
$1.15zł 4.36
-37.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.51
$0.61zł 2.32
-13.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$5.67zł 21.52
-25.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿609
$6.62zł 25.14
176.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.3
$1.16zł 4.42
40.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.6
$1.52zł 5.76
90.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.24
$1.01zł 3.83
-12.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,790
$32.27zł 122
66.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.04
$2.01zł 7.64
-41.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.25
$0.92zł 3.49
-36.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.4
$13.39zł 50.8
-82.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.28
$1.55zł 5.87
-6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿699.5K
$31.4Kzł 119.3K
-33.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿879.7K
$29.3Kzł 111.1K
-9.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,119
$250zł 950
-74.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿429
$12.97zł 49.23
-0.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿683
$8.72zł 33.11
135.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,299
$22.25zł 84.5
75.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿130
$23.49zł 89.2
-83.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿219
$4.62zł 17.55
42.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.1K
$342zł 1,299
129.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿488.4K
$2,714zł 10.3K
440.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,835
$73.0zł 277
-24.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿824
$37.09zł 141
-33.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,133
$84.4zł 320
11.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,462
$94.4zł 359
-21.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.3K
$631zł 2,395
-22.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,594
$533zł 2,024
-45.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.7K
$1,056zł 4,009
-15.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.3K
$862zł 3,274
-39.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.7K
$3,033zł 11.5K
-34.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.1K
$2,295zł 8,712
-37.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.0K
$2,006zł 7,614
-70.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.4
3.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Boleslawiec: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $631 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 233% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Boleslawiec. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $216 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 48%, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,064 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 in Boleslawiec?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% 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 in Boleslawiec?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $47.00 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 living in Chiang Mai or in Boleslawiec?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Boleslawiec at $1,376. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared