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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,172 in Kalisz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,651 in Kalisz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,131 in Kalisz, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Kalisz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kalisz are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kalisz 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$9.30 zł 34.55

-77.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$32.63 zł 121

-39.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$9.28 zł 34.46

-39.12%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$3.21 zł 11.93

-43.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.88 zł 6.98

-62.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$1.75 zł 6.48

-81.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.65 zł 9.85

-15.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.73 zł 10.13

32.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.04 zł 3.84

88.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.31 zł 4.88

14.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.67 zł 6.19

-19.76%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$3.17 zł 11.78

-28.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$8.29 zł 30.80

96.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.72 zł 17.53

-37.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$9.95 zł 36.96

-0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.16 zł 4.33

121.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.74 zł 6.47

-39.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.62 zł 6.03

-0.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$3.24 zł 12.04

-53.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.83 zł 3.09

53.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$1.06 zł 3.93

0.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.37 zł 5.08

-47.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.55 zł 2.05

-7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.79 zł 17.78

-12.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.43 zł 27.61

140.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.92 zł 3.43

83.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.47 zł 5.45

93.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$1.04 zł 3.86

-10.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$36.41 zł 135

47.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$2.19 zł 8.14

-43.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.10 zł 4.08

-47.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$6.80 zł 25.24

-64.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.57 zł 5.84

-10.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$32.4K zł 120.2K

-33.75%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$28.9K zł 107.3K

-5.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,093

$191 zł 708

-66.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.85 ฿423

$10.94 zł 40.65

17.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$18.01 zł 66.9

12.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$33.40 zł 124

15.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.53 zł 24.24

3.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$778 ฿25.6K

$261 zł 970

197.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$5,298 zł 19.7K

175.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$88.5 zł 329

-38.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$26.53 zł 98.6

-4.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$83.2 zł 309

13.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$92.2 zł 342

-20.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$448 zł 1,665

9.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$352 zł 1,307

-17.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$553 zł 2,055

61.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$455 zł 1,690

13.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,044 zł 7,593

-4.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,514 zł 5,624

-2.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$1,230 zł 4,570

-51.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.21

-10.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kalisz: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $448 in Kalisz. 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 104% higher in Kalisz, 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 $33.00 in Kalisz. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Kalisz – so Kalisz 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 Kalisz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalisz costs about 24% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,758 in Kalisz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $261 in Kalisz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Kalisz – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Kalisz at $1,172. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalisz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,172 in Kalisz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kalisz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.