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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,219 in Leskovac, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,819 in Leskovac, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,419 in Leskovac, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Leskovac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Leskovac are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Leskovac 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$10.13 RSD 1,016

-80.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$48.83 RSD 4,899

-61.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$11.89 RSD 1,193

-33.39%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.10 RSD 211

-9.05%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$2.09 RSD 210

-59.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.50 RSD 151

-76.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.42 RSD 242

-8.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.02 RSD 303

25.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.46 RSD 146

12.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.95 RSD 95.3

70.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$3.00 RSD 301

-60.67%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.93 RSD 294

-31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$11.55 RSD 1,158

37.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.61 RSD 763

-60.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$13.30 RSD 1,335

-19.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.42 RSD 142

83.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.95 RSD 195

-37.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.93 RSD 193

-11.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.75 RSD 276

-42.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.03 RSD 103

28.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.75 RSD 75.0

56.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.93 RSD 93.7

-27.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.79 RSD 79.1

-29.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.07 RSD 308

47.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$4.85 RSD 486

275.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.88 RSD 88.1

107.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.60 RSD 160

101.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.49 RSD 150

-40.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$35.05 RSD 3,517

-44.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.25 RSD 326

-58.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.90 RSD 90.3

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$7.07 RSD 709

16.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.88 RSD 188

-32.45%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$30.8K RSD 3.1M

-31.21%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$27.0K RSD 2.7M

-16.64%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$204 RSD 20.4K

-65.57%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$13.96 RSD 1,400

-1.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$32.52 RSD 3,262

-45.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$23.35 RSD 2,343

78.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$19.54 RSD 1,960

-66.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.91 RSD 493

17.72%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$448 RSD 45.0K

-31.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,027 RSD 504.3K

194.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$102 RSD 10.3K

-46.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$42.41 RSD 4,255

-38.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$111 RSD 11.1K

-23.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$122 RSD 12.3K

-43.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$349 RSD 35.0K

21.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$301 RSD 30.2K

-20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$477 RSD 47.8K

73.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$414 RSD 41.5K

24.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,414 RSD 141.9K

44.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,194 RSD 119.8K

27.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$323 RSD 32.4K

96.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.59

-10.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Leskovac: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $349 in Leskovac. 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 96% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Leskovac. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $236 in Leskovac – so Leskovac 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 Leskovac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Leskovac costs about 43% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,829 in Leskovac. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $448 in Leskovac. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Leskovac – 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 $852, than in Leskovac at $1,219. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Leskovac it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,219 in Leskovac. 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, Leskovac makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.