🙂A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,495 in Lodz, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,201 in Lodz, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,907 in Lodz, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 42% cheaper than Lodz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Lodz is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$10.98zł 41.65
-82.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$48.34zł 183
-62.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$8.36zł 31.71
-10.53%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$3.62zł 13.75
-44.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$1.83zł 6.94
-53.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$1.70zł 6.45
-78.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$3.32zł 12.61
-35.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$3.98zł 15.11
-9.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$1.03zł 3.91
60.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$1.24zł 4.72
26.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$1.17zł 4.45
1.71%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$3.04zł 11.52
-36.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$8.75zł 33.18
85.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$6.76zł 25.64
-55.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$10.92zł 41.44
0.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$1.15zł 4.37
135.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$1.78zł 6.75
-34.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$2.01zł 7.62
-15.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$2.85zł 10.81
-43.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$0.91zł 3.47
51.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$1.19zł 4.52
0.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$1.20zł 4.56
-44.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$0.59zł 2.25
-5.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$5.03zł 19.08
-7.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$6.93zł 26.28
154.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$1.21zł 4.59
53.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$1.96zł 7.43
68.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$1.18zł 4.47
-25.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$46.31zł 176
-58.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$2.22zł 8.43
-38.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$0.51zł 1.94
162.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$9.53zł 36.15
-13.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$1.71zł 6.49
-28.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$33.2Kzł 125.8K
-35.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$29.0Kzł 110.1K
-22.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$335zł 1,270
-78.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$8.44zł 32.02
66.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$17.08zł 64.8
2.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$42.89zł 163
-1.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$26.01zł 98.7
-73.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$8.07zł 30.63
-26.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$341zł 1,293
-9.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$9,485zł 36.0K
56.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$93.4zł 354
-40.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$30.84zł 117
-15.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$77.0zł 292
7.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$93.1zł 353
-24.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$623zł 2,365
-30.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$482zł 1,830
-50.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$1,131zł 4,291
-27.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$889zł 3,372
-42.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$3,199zł 12.1K
-40.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$2,451zł 9,299
-40.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lodz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$1,637zł 6,212
-64.61%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lodz: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $623 in Lodz. 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 183% higher in Lodz, 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 $48.00 in Lodz. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Lodz – so Lodz 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 Lodz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Lodz?
Lodz costs about 74% 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 and in Lodz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,243 in Lodz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Lodz?
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 in Lodz?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $341 in Lodz. 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 in Lodz?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Lodz – 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 in Lodz?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Lodz at $1,495. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lodz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Lodz?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,495 in Lodz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Lodz?
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 to Lodz?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lodz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared