Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Novi Sad Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Novi Sad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,488 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,233 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,978 in Novi Sad, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Novi Sad is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$10.41 RSD 1,050

-79.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$51.2 RSD 5,160

-61.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$12.74 RSD 1,284

-54.55%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.72 RSD 274

-32.72%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$2.49 RSD 251

-68.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.91 RSD 193

-83.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.91 RSD 293

-19.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.03 RSD 406

-8.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.52 RSD 154

33.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.03 RSD 104

55.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.86 RSD 288

-50.35%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.72 RSD 274

-19.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$13.84 RSD 1,395

14.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$7.72 RSD 778

-60.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.47 RSD 1,459

-31.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.83 RSD 185

43.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.02 RSD 204

-45.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.73 RSD 174

-5.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.66 RSD 268

-42.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.04 RSD 105

19.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.67 RSD 67.2

68.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.04 RSD 105

-28.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.70 RSD 70.5

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.90 RSD 494

-12.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.89 RSD 795

127.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.99 RSD 100.0

71.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.38 RSD 240

21.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$1.01 RSD 102

-6.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$25.88 RSD 2,608

113.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.41 RSD 243

-48.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.91 RSD 91.8

-41.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$10.77 RSD 1,085

-77.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.87 RSD 189

-22.99%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

-32.42%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

3.16%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$246 RSD 24.8K

-73.61%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$21.16 RSD 2,133

-36.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$35.51 RSD 3,579

-41.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$38.45 RSD 3,876

5.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$11.54 RSD 1,164

-65.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$7.51 RSD 757

-10.65%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$389 RSD 39.2K

102.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

95.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$122 RSD 12.3K

-53.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$46.04 RSD 4,640

-45.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$145 RSD 14.6K

-36.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$141 RSD 14.2K

-46.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$514 RSD 51.8K

-5.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$412 RSD 41.5K

-30.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$997 RSD 100.5K

-8.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$802 RSD 80.8K

-33.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

-46.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

-46.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

-52.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.23

6.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $514 in Novi Sad. 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 109% higher in Novi Sad, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $51.0 in Novi Sad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $255 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novi Sad costs about 57% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,232 in Novi Sad. 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $389 in Novi Sad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Novi Sad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Novi Sad at $1,488. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novi Sad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,488 in Novi Sad. 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, Novi Sad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.