🙂A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,392 in Kartuzy, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,053 in Kartuzy, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,715 in Kartuzy, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 39% cheaper than Kartuzy, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Kartuzy is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$8.56zł 31.94
-76.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$42.41zł 158
-55.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$8.38zł 31.26
-6.21%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$3.39zł 12.64
-40.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$2.30zł 8.57
-65.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$1.64zł 6.13
-78.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$3.23zł 12.06
-33.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$3.57zł 13.34
2.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$1.02zł 3.81
69.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$1.37zł 5.09
14.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$1.26zł 4.69
-4.76%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$3.33zł 12.44
-40.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$9.23zł 34.43
75.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$6.40zł 23.89
-52.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$10.96zł 40.89
-1.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$1.09zł 4.05
154.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$1.74zł 6.48
-32.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.71zł 6.37
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$2.85zł 10.64
-44.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$0.92zł 3.43
51.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$1.13zł 4.21
2.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$1.28zł 4.78
-48.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.65zł 2.43
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$4.89zł 18.25
-4.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$7.42zł 27.68
139.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.13zł 4.22
58.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$1.67zł 6.22
100.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$1.12zł 4.19
-18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$32.85zł 123
-43.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$2.14zł 7.99
-34.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$0.79zł 2.93
69.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$10.89zł 40.62
-25.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.77zł 6.59
-30.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$34.2Kzł 127.5K
-37.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$29.5Kzł 110.2K
-26.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$270zł 1,008
-73.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$8.69zł 32.40
61.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$16.67zł 62.2
7.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$36.87zł 138
10.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$19.67zł 73.4
-65.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$7.21zł 26.89
-20.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$334zł 1,247
-7.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$8,071zł 30.1K
81.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$89.6zł 334
-37.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$36.38zł 136
-28.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$81.3zł 303
4.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$96.3zł 359
-26.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$653zł 2,434
-35.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$491zł 1,833
-50.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$959zł 3,576
-16.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$808zł 3,015
-37.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$3,066zł 11.4K
-37.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$2,265zł 8,448
-35.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kartuzy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$1,335zł 4,978
-55.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.75
-25.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kartuzy: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $653 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $42.00 in Kartuzy. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $214 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 63% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,087 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $334 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 14% 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 $852, than in Kartuzy at $1,392. 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 $852 versus $1,392 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