🙂A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,359 in Boleslawiec, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,006 in Boleslawiec, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,654 in Boleslawiec, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 37% cheaper than Boleslawiec, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Boleslawiec is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$9.57zł 35.69
-78.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$49.46zł 184
-62.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$8.47zł 31.61
-7.20%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$3.35zł 12.51
-39.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$1.86zł 6.95
-56.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$1.41zł 5.28
-75.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$3.23zł 12.05
-33.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$3.21zł 11.96
14.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$0.94zł 3.49
84.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$1.32zł 4.93
18.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$0.94zł 3.49
27.66%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$3.28zł 12.24
-39.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$9.83zł 36.68
65.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$6.18zł 23.07
-50.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$12.98zł 48.44
-16.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$0.92zł 3.42
201.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$1.80zł 6.70
-35.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.43zł 5.35
19.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$2.28zł 8.49
-30.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$0.95zł 3.54
46.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$1.06zł 3.97
9.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.96zł 3.59
-31.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.58zł 2.17
-10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$5.34zł 19.92
-12.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$6.43zł 23.99
176.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.08zł 4.03
65.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$1.48zł 5.52
125.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$1.12zł 4.18
-18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$32.27zł 120
-42.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$2.19zł 8.15
-35.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$1.01zł 3.77
32.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$13.78zł 51.4
-41.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.75zł 6.52
-29.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$33.3Kzł 124.2K
-35.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$30.6Kzł 114.3K
-28.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$259zł 968
-72.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$10.72zł 39.98
30.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$8.59zł 32.05
108.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$22.55zł 84.1
81.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$19.48zł 72.7
-64.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$4.56zł 17.02
25.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$368zł 1,371
-16.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$2,743zł 10.2K
435.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$56.6zł 211
-1.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$30.34zł 113
-14.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$72.8zł 272
16.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$84.3zł 315
-15.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$646zł 2,410
-34.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$486zł 1,813
-50.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$978zł 3,647
-18.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$826zł 3,080
-38.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$2,999zł 11.2K
-36.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$2,328zł 8,683
-37.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Boleslawiec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$1,973zł 7,359
-69.84%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Boleslawiec: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $646 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 232% 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 $49.00 in Boleslawiec. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $208 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 59%, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,039 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 17% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $49.00 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 $852, than in Boleslawiec at $1,359. 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