🙂A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,460 in Kartuzy, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,131 in Kartuzy, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,801 in Kartuzy, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Kartuzy, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Kartuzy is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$8.55zł 32.53
-75.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$42.96zł 163
-54.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$9.24zł 35.14
-38.64%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$3.60zł 13.69
-49.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$2.29zł 8.71
-66.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$1.73zł 6.57
-79.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$3.76zł 14.28
-41.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$3.96zł 15.05
-4.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$0.98zł 3.72
109.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$1.36zł 5.16
11.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$1.19zł 4.51
17.65%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$3.48zł 13.22
-35.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$9.18zł 34.90
76.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$7.53zł 28.63
-61.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
$12.73zł 48.39
-26.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$1.12zł 4.25
139.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$1.69zł 6.41
-35.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$1.55zł 5.90
4.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$2.74zł 10.43
-46.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$0.93zł 3.52
37.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$0.90zł 3.43
17.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$1.22zł 4.63
-40.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.70zł 2.68
-24.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$4.60zł 17.50
-8.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$6.57zł 25.00
178.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$1.17zł 4.43
39.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$1.59zł 6.06
82.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$1.15zł 4.38
-23.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$30.60zł 116
75.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$2.14zł 8.13
-45.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.78zł 2.95
-25.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$10.75zł 40.87
-77.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$1.59zł 6.03
-8.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$27.3Kzł 103.9K
-23.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$29.7Kzł 112.8K
-10.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$290zł 1,104
-78.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$8.97zł 34.13
43.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$17.87zł 68.0
14.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$39.15zł 149
-0.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
$22.62zł 86.0
-82.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$7.52zł 28.59
-12.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$346zł 1,315
126.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$7,764zł 29.5K
88.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$78.2zł 297
-29.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$34.62zł 132
-28.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$92.9zł 353
1.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$102zł 388
-27.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$619zł 2,354
-20.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$524zł 1,992
-44.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$1,037zł 3,943
-14.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$865zł 3,288
-39.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$2,960zł 11.3K
-33.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$2,369zł 9,010
-39.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
$1,348zł 5,124
-55.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.79
-17.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Kartuzy: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $619 in Kartuzy. 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 124% higher in Kartuzy, 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 $43.00 in Kartuzy. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Kartuzy – so Kartuzy 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 Kartuzy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kartuzy?
Kartuzy costs about 57% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Kartuzy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,190 in Kartuzy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kartuzy?
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 childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Kartuzy?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $346 in Kartuzy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Kartuzy?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Kartuzy – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Kartuzy?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Kartuzy at $1,460. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kartuzy it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kartuzy?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,460 in Kartuzy. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kartuzy?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Kartuzy?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kartuzy makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared