Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Plock

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,400 in Plock, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 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
68

Cost of Living Index in Plock
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Plock Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Plock

🇵🇱 Poland

$1,400

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Plock actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,400 in Plock, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Plock $1,400

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,002 in Plock, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Plock $2,002

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,604 in Plock, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Plock $2,604

Chiang Mai is about 33% cheaper than Plock, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Plock is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$9.03 zł 35.69

-75.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$38.52 zł 152

-50.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$7.67 zł 30.30

-27.64%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$3.39 zł 13.40

-50.74%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$1.67 zł 6.58

-61.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$1.61 zł 6.38

-80.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$3.85 zł 15.23

-38.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.63 zł 10.41

39.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.04 zł 4.13

87.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$1.24 zł 4.89

16.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$0.89 zł 3.54

49.44%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.76 zł 10.90

-17.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$9.14 zł 36.14

79.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$6.10 zł 24.13

-54.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$11.70 zł 46.26

-20.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.00 zł 3.96

135.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.53 zł 6.07

-36.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.53 zł 6.03

4.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.55 zł 6.14

-3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.99 zł 3.92

29.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.38 zł 5.44

-20.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.14 zł 4.51

-37.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.31 zł 1.21

58.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$5.72 zł 22.63

-27.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$8.36 zł 33.04

109.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.00 zł 3.97

61.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.39 zł 5.49

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$1.19 zł 4.72

-26.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$28.20 zł 111

91.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$1.98 zł 7.84

-41.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.63 zł 2.49

-15.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$9.71 zł 38.39

-75.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.55 zł 6.12

-6.45%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$24.3K zł 96.0K

-13.29%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$28.4K zł 112.1K

-5.03%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$278 zł 1,099

-77.64%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$8.13 zł 32.14

49.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$19.15 zł 75.7

5.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$28.87 zł 114

29.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$21.61 zł 85.4

-82.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$6.30 zł 24.89

3.02%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$326 zł 1,288

125.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$5,069 zł 20.0K

191.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$64.6 zł 255

-17.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$36.91 zł 146

-33.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$89.1 zł 352

2.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$99.5 zł 393

-27.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$604 zł 2,386

-20.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$514 zł 2,032

-39.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$967 zł 3,824

3.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$819 zł 3,237

-22.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,832 zł 11.2K

-16.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$2,127 zł 8,408

-25.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,174 zł 4,640

-49.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.53

-14.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Plock: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Plock

$514 36.7% 66.4% $205

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Plock

$197 14.1% 15.9% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Plock

$131 9.3% 20.2% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Plock

$305 21.8% 223% $211

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Plock

$174 12.4% 124% $96

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Plock

$38 2.7% 37.9% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Plock

$41 3% 17.5% $8.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $604 in Plock. 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 99% higher in Plock. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $39 in Plock. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $197 in Plock – so Plock wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇱 Plock

🕒 Local time

14:04 2:04 PM

08:04 8:04 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

122,815

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Polish Złoty PLN zł

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 PLN = 0.253 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 = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3.95 PLN (1 PLN = 0.253 USD). 1 EUR = 4.41 PLN (1 PLN = 0.227 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Plock 7,640 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Plock

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 Plock: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Plock costs about 50% 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 $2,100 in Plock. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $604 in Plock.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $326 in Plock. 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 Plock – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,400 in Plock. 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 $1,400 in Plock. 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, Plock makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.