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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,314 in Kielce, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,874 in Kielce, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,433 in Kielce, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 34% cheaper than Kielce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kielce are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kielce 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$10.96 zł 41.58

-82.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$41.47 zł 157

-55.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.74 zł 25.57

10.98%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.96 zł 11.21

-31.76%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.13 zł 8.10

-60.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.84 zł 3.19

-57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.18 zł 12.07

-32.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.15 zł 15.75

-13.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.97 zł 3.68

70.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.44 zł 5.47

9.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.19 zł 4.50

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.44 zł 13.05

-43.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.85 zł 33.57

82.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.71 zł 25.47

-55.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$12.45 zł 47.24

-12.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.97 zł 3.69

179.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.52 zł 5.78

-23.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.60 zł 6.06

5.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.78 zł 10.54

-42.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.59 zł 2.25

133.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.59 zł 2.23

103.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.71 zł 6.50

-60.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.47 zł 1.78

19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.10 zł 19.36

-9.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.39 zł 24.23

175.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.29 zł 4.90

44.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.51 zł 5.73

118.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.07 zł 4.06

-17.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$32.85 zł 125

-41.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.47 zł 9.37

-44.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.72 zł 2.73

86.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$14.94 zł 56.7

-45.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.70 zł 6.43

-28.24%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$33.8K zł 128.4K

-36.89%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$30.0K zł 113.9K

-24.95%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$208 zł 788

-65.98%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$8.10 zł 30.75

73.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$11.90 zł 45.15

46.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$31.05 zł 118

35.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$20.52 zł 77.9

-66.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$8.08 zł 30.66

-26.73%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$285 zł 1,082

8.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,925 zł 22.5K

151.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$76.1 zł 289

-26.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$48.65 zł 185

-46.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$80.0 zł 304

3.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$111 zł 421

-36.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$548 zł 2,081

-21.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$459 zł 1,742

-47.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$776 zł 2,945

5.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$586 zł 2,223

-12.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,186 zł 12.1K

-39.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,524 zł 9,578

-41.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,361 zł 5,164

-57.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.97

-16.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kielce: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $548 in Kielce. 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 135% higher in Kielce, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Kielce. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Kielce – so Kielce 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 Kielce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kielce costs about 53% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,971 in Kielce. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $285 in Kielce. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Kielce – 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 $861, than in Kielce at $1,314. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kielce it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,314 in Kielce. 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, Kielce makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.