🙂A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,659 in Poznan, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,349 in Poznan, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,038 in Poznan, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 43% cheaper than Poznan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Poznan is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10฿69.3
$12.29zł 45.77
-82.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84฿656
$53.7zł 200
-63.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79฿191
$9.55zł 35.56
-39.37%
Cappuccino
$1.83฿60.4
$3.59zł 13.37
-49.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.61
$1.75zł 6.53
-55.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31฿10.37
$1.68zł 6.24
-81.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34฿77.2
$3.18zł 11.84
-26.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70฿122
$4.28zł 15.92
-13.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03฿67.1
$1.01zł 3.76
100.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60฿52.7
$1.33zł 4.97
20.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42฿46.75
$1.51zł 5.63
-5.96%
Eggs
$2.18฿71.9
$3.70zł 13.78
-41.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.91฿526
$9.36zł 34.87
69.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07฿102
$6.39zł 23.78
-51.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87฿326
$13.73zł 51.1
-28.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿86.8
$1.38zł 5.14
90.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10฿36.19
$1.76zł 6.55
-37.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿53.8
$1.73zł 6.43
-5.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.6
$2.59zł 9.63
-40.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24฿41.13
$0.77zł 2.88
61.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13฿37.37
$1.10zł 4.10
2.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74฿24.38
$1.37zł 5.08
-45.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50฿16.48
$0.68zł 2.53
-26.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28฿141
$5.94zł 22.12
-27.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.97฿594
$7.94zł 29.58
126.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70฿56.1
$1.24zł 4.63
37.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿95.7
$1.54zł 5.75
88.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94฿31.13
$1.39zł 5.17
-32.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.3฿1,827
$32.83zł 122
68.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.76
$2.47zł 9.19
-50.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53฿17.66
$1.11zł 4.13
-52.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.40฿79.3
$13.60zł 50.7
-82.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44฿47.55
$1.66zł 6.16
-13.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿700.2K
$31.9Kzł 118.8K
-33.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿902.1K
$29.0Kzł 108.1K
-5.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.9฿2,145
$306zł 1,138
-78.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35฿441
$8.44zł 31.41
58.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83฿688
$19.88zł 74.0
4.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42฿1,336
$42.50zł 158
-4.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95฿131
$33.86zł 126
-88.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71฿222
$7.96zł 29.65
-15.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$787฿26.0K
$503zł 1,871
56.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K฿499.6K
$8,039zł 29.9K
88.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,858
$84.2zł 314
-33.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95฿824
$38.82zł 145
-35.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7฿3,063
$90.6zł 337
2.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1฿2,482
$115zł 429
-34.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484฿16.0K
$822zł 3,060
-41.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287฿9,491
$617zł 2,297
-53.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910฿30.1K
$1,312zł 4,884
-30.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531฿17.5K
$876zł 3,261
-39.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,980฿65.4K
$3,656zł 13.6K
-45.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿47.9K
$2,710zł 10.1K
-46.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Poznan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605฿20.0K
$1,788zł 6,658
-66.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.63
-15.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Last update for Poznan: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $822 in Poznan. 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 195% higher in Poznan, 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 $54.0 in Poznan. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $226 in Poznan – so Poznan 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 Poznan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Poznan?
Poznan costs about 75% 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 Poznan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,489 in Poznan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Poznan?
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 Poznan?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $503 in Poznan. 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 Poznan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Poznan – 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 Poznan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Poznan at $1,659. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Poznan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Poznan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,659 in Poznan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Poznan?
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 Poznan?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Poznan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared