Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Legnica

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,322 in Legnica, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
64

Cost of Living Index in Legnica
Learn more

Legnica Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Legnica

🇵🇱 Poland

$1,322

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Legnica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Legnica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,322 in Legnica, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Legnica $1,322

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,960 in Legnica, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Legnica $1,960

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,598 in Legnica, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Legnica $2,598

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Legnica, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Legnica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Legnica 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$9.28 zł 36.60

-75.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$24.96 zł 98.4

-23.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$8.28 zł 32.66

-32.97%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$3.08 zł 12.13

-45.78%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$2.07 zł 8.15

-69.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$1.01 zł 3.96

-69.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$2.96 zł 11.69

-20.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.71 zł 14.62

-1.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$0.84 zł 3.30

132.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.46

$1.04 zł 4.08

38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.03

$1.18 zł 4.67

12.71%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$3.00 zł 11.84

-24.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$10.49 zł 41.35

56.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$6.61 zł 26.08

-57.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$7.42 zł 29.25

25.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.12 zł 4.40

109.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.79

$1.65 zł 6.50

-41.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.13 zł 8.41

-24.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$2.90 zł 11.43

-48.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.11

$0.84 zł 3.32

52.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.18

$0.91 zł 3.60

20.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.04 zł 4.09

-31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

$0.54 zł 2.15

-9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.46 zł 17.61

-7.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$6.58 zł 25.94

166.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$0.78 zł 3.06

106.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$1.67 zł 6.60

66.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.30

$1.04 zł 4.12

-16.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

$45.53 zł 180

18.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.04

$1.53 zł 6.02

-24.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.53 zł 2.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

$9.16 zł 36.13

-73.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.88

$1.60 zł 6.32

-9.38%

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

$21.1K ฿710.5K

$30.1K zł 118.5K

-29.92%

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

$26.9K ฿909.0K

$28.2K zł 111.1K

-4.39%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$308 zł 1,213

-79.79%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$8.49 zł 33.47

43.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$12.79 zł 50.4

57.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$30.19 zł 119

23.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$21.72 zł 85.7

-82.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$6.32 zł 24.92

2.69%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$299 zł 1,180

145.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.2K

$8,871 zł 35.0K

66.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$74.5 zł 294

-28.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$40.64 zł 160

-39.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$87.3 zł 344

4.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,427

$95.2 zł 376

-24.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$489 zł 1,927

-1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$396 zł 1,561

-21.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$959 zł 3,782

4.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$822 zł 3,241

-22.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

$2,875 zł 11.3K

-17.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$2,234 zł 8,807

-28.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,344 zł 5,299

-56.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.87

-18.92%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Legnica: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Legnica

$396 29.9% 28.1% $87

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Legnica

$196 14.8% 16.3% $38

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Legnica

$134 10.1% 23.3% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Legnica

$329 24.9% 248% $234

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Legnica

$171 12.9% 120% $93

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Legnica

$54 4.1% 12.2% $7.5

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Legnica

$43 3.2% 14.8% $7.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $489 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 in Legnica are about 2.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $25 in Legnica. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Legnica – so Legnica wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇱 Legnica

🕒 Local time

10:27 10:27 AM

04:27 4:27 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

97,958

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Polish Złoty PLN zł

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 PLN = 0.254 USD

1 PLN = 0.227 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3.94 PLN (1 PLN = 0.254 USD). 1 EUR = 4.4 PLN (1 PLN = 0.227 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Legnica 7,900 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Legnica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Legnica costs about 41% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,983 in Legnica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $489 in Legnica. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $299 in Legnica. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Legnica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,322 in Legnica. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,322 in Legnica. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Legnica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.