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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,310 in Legnica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,025 in Legnica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,740 in Legnica, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Legnica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿64.0
$10.13 zł 36.86
-80.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 ฿615
$27.19 zł 99.0
-30.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 ฿259
$7.92 zł 28.81
-
Cappuccino
$1.91 ฿62.6
$3.18 zł 11.59
-39.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.41
$1.87 zł 6.80
-55.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.51
$1.12 zł 4.08
-68.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$3.35 zł 12.18
-34.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 ฿124
$4.18 zł 15.23
-9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$0.96 zł 3.49
70.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿53.1
$1.17 zł 4.27
38.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.62
$1.18 zł 4.29
-
Eggs
$2.01 ฿65.8
$3.15 zł 11.47
-36.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.89 ฿520
$8.68 zł 31.58
83.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿98.5
$7.04 zł 25.64
-57.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.77 ฿352
$7.90 zł 28.74
36.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ฿85.5
$1.20 zł 4.37
117.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.88
$1.80 zł 6.55
-32.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.7
$1.98 zł 7.23
-14.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿51.5
$2.81 zł 10.22
-43.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.14
$0.95 zł 3.45
38.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.23
$1.12 zł 4.07
4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.98
$1.11 zł 4.05
-39.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.53 zł 1.93
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿148
$4.98 zł 18.14
-9.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 ฿595
$7.05 zł 25.65
158.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.0
$0.80 zł 2.90
128.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$1.96 zł 7.12
64.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ฿29.00
$1.15 zł 4.20
-22.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.38 ฿634
$49.73 zł 181
-61.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿44.20
$2.16 zł 7.85
-37.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿44.05
$0.51 zł 1.87
164.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 ฿270
$13.38 zł 48.71
-38.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.64
$1.70 zł 6.17
-25.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿691.8K
$33.3K zł 121.3K
-36.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿735.3K
$29.0K zł 105.7K
-22.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,294
$335 zł 1,219
-79.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿450
$8.56 zł 31.14
60.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ฿575
$13.72 zł 49.93
28.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 ฿1,360
$32.32 zł 118
28.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 ฿216
$40.32 zł 147
-83.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ฿189
$6.59 zł 23.98
-12.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 ฿10.0K
$319 zł 1,162
-4.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿484.8K
$9,392 zł 34.2K
57.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 ฿1,778
$92.4 zł 336
-41.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14 ฿855
$30.91 zł 113
-15.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 ฿2,764
$74.5 zł 271
13.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 ฿2,270
$94.2 zł 343
-26.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 ฿13.9K
$488 zł 1,775
-13.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 ฿7,788
$322 zł 1,173
-26.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 ฿27.0K
$936 zł 3,408
-11.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$817 zł 2,974
-36.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,049 ฿67.0K
$3,327 zł 12.1K
-38.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,523 ฿49.8K
$2,470 zł 8,991
-38.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Legnica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$635 ฿20.8K
$1,454 zł 5,291
-56.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.78
-26.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Legnica: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $488 in Legnica. 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 129% higher in Legnica, 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 $27.00 in Legnica. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Legnica – so Legnica 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 Legnica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Legnica?
Legnica costs about 54% 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 vs Legnica?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,964 in Legnica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Legnica?
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 Legnica?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $319 in Legnica. 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 Legnica?
Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Legnica – 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 Legnica?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Legnica at $1,310. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Legnica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Legnica?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,310 in Legnica. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Legnica?
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 Legnica?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Legnica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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