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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,232 in Kecskemet, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,800 in Kecskemet, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,367 in Kecskemet, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Kecskemet, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kecskemet are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kecskemet 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$10.17 Ft 3,186

-79.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$31.71 Ft 9,932

-37.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.98 Ft 2,501

-27.44%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.82 Ft 571

0.55%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.52 Ft 478

-48.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.98 Ft 307

-68.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.28 Ft 715

2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.43 Ft 762

52.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.22 Ft 381

66.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.35 Ft 422

18.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.63 Ft 824

-46.01%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.88 Ft 1,215

-43.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.36 Ft 3,245

53.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.99 Ft 2,190

-56.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.75 Ft 4,622

-33.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.83 Ft 572

43.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.68 Ft 526

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.87 Ft 586

-12.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$3.33 Ft 1,044

-54.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.06 Ft 333

16.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.19 Ft 374

-5.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.25 Ft 393

-40.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.53 Ft 165

-5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$7.52 Ft 2,356

-43.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$3.80 Ft 1,190

372.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.31 Ft 411

29.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.08 Ft 650

39.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$1.23 Ft 384

-23.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$19.49 Ft 6,106

183.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.29 Ft 404

-4.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.74 Ft 545

-69.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$19.47 Ft 6,098

-87.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.85 Ft 581

-22.16%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$28.6K Ft 9.0M

-25.83%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$34.6K Ft 10.8M

-21.06%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$133 Ft 41.6K

-51.15%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$33.73 Ft 10.6K

-60.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$19.98 Ft 6,258

4.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$63.3 Ft 19.8K

-36.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$28.58 Ft 8,952

-86.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$8.55 Ft 2,677

-21.52%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$262 Ft 82.0K

200.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$6,937 Ft 2.2M

118.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$109 Ft 34.3K

-48.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$15.94 Ft 4,994

56.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$47.92 Ft 15.0K

93.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$79.9 Ft 25.0K

-6.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$519 Ft 162.7K

-6.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$418 Ft 131.0K

-31.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$740 Ft 231.9K

22.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$616 Ft 192.9K

-13.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,416 Ft 756.9K

-18.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$2,075 Ft 650.0K

-30.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,159 Ft 363.2K

-47.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.67

-16.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kecskemet: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $519 in Kecskemet. 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 92% higher in Kecskemet, 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 $32.00 in Kecskemet. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $241 in Kecskemet – so Kecskemet 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 Kecskemet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kecskemet costs about 30% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,848 in Kecskemet. 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $262 in Kecskemet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Kecskemet – 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 $950, than in Kecskemet at $1,232. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kecskemet it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,232 in Kecskemet. 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, Kecskemet makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.