๐A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $662 in Kremenets, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,042 in Kremenets, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,421 in Kremenets, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Kremenets, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Chiang Mai and Kremenets are more affordable than the global median โ Chiang Mai37% lower, Kremenets51% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95เธฟ62.8
$4.76โด209
-59.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43เธฟ594
$33.18โด1,459
-44.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50เธฟ241
$5.91โด260
26.90%
Cappuccino
$1.93เธฟ62.3
$0.93โด40.71
107.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78เธฟ25.08
$0.62โด27.40
25.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32เธฟ10.42
$0.39โด17.34
-17.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15เธฟ69.2
$0.94โด41.42
128.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71เธฟ120
$1.41โด62.2
163.12%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71เธฟ55.2
$1.02โด44.74
67.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56เธฟ50.3
$0.75โด32.97
108.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18เธฟ38.06
$1.44โด63.3
-18.06%
Eggs
$1.98เธฟ63.9
$1.49โด65.6
32.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04เธฟ517
$7.64โด336
109.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17เธฟ102
$3.86โด170
-17.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94เธฟ353
$7.70โด339
42.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63เธฟ84.7
$0.89โด39.27
195.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ37.61
$1.52โด66.8
-23.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65เธฟ53.0
$2.13โด93.5
-22.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54เธฟ49.51
$2.26โด99.5
-31.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38เธฟ44.34
$0.55โด23.98
150.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ37.54
$0.63โด27.58
85.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66เธฟ21.25
$2.15โด94.5
-69.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51เธฟ16.55
$0.53โด23.17
-3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52เธฟ146
$2.59โด114
74.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32เธฟ590
$4.13โด182
343.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80เธฟ57.9
$0.84โด37.07
114.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18เธฟ102
$1.32โด58.1
140.91%
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90เธฟ28.97
$0.37โด16.44
143.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00เธฟ612
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.50
$1.76โด77.6
-19.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31เธฟ42.15
$0.25โด11.00
424.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09เธฟ261
$2.93โด129
176.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28เธฟ41.08
$1.31โด57.8
-2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kเธฟ686.1K
$30.7Kโด1.3M
-30.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7Kเธฟ699.3K
$24.5Kโด1.1M
-11.24%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2เธฟ2,230
$60.8โด2,671
13.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97เธฟ450
$5.27โด232
165.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95เธฟ578
$7.80โด343
130.13%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31เธฟ1,363
$24.16โด1,062
75.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66เธฟ214
$9.95โด437
-33.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92เธฟ191
$4.38โด192
35.16%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299เธฟ9,640
$288โด12.6K
4.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kเธฟ478.4K
$3,453โด151.8K
330.01%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2เธฟ1,810
$42.37โด1,863
32.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94เธฟ868
$11.90โด523
126.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9เธฟ2,735
$77.9โด3,426
8.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8เธฟ2,314
$83.6โด3,675
-14.08%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435เธฟ14.0K
$265โด11.6K
64.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240เธฟ7,727
$205โด8,991
17.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798เธฟ25.7K
$441โด19.4K
80.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498เธฟ16.1K
$317โด13.9K
57.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995เธฟ64.3K
$1,053โด46.3K
89.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532เธฟ49.4K
$729โด32.1K
110.03%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kremenets
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628เธฟ20.2K
$407โด17.9K
54.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8
-37.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Kremenets: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $265 in Kremenets. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 55% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $33 in Kremenets. Groceries tell a different story โ $244 in Chiang Mai vs $161 in Kremenets โ so Kremenets 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 Kremenets: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kremenets?
Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Kremenets, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Kremenets?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $994 in Kremenets. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kremenets?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kremenets, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Kremenets?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $33.00 in Kremenets. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Kremenets?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Kremenets?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably โ all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $662 in Kremenets, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kremenets?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kremenets costs $662 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kremenets?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Kremenets?
If budget matters most, go with Kremenets. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared