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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $865 in Sabac, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,319 in Sabac, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,774 in Sabac, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Sabac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sabac are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sabac 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$8.32 RSD 841

-75.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$28.46 RSD 2,876

-30.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$6.76 RSD 683

-16.42%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$2.04 RSD 207

-11.27%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$1.91 RSD 193

-62.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$1.44 RSD 146

-77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$2.74 RSD 277

-18.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$2.71 RSD 274

33.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$1.35 RSD 137

45.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$0.65 RSD 65.5

130.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$1.91 RSD 193

-29.84%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.04 RSD 206

10.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$6.14 RSD 621

164.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$6.78 RSD 685

-56.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$12.05 RSD 1,217

-17.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$1.28 RSD 129

100.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$1.98 RSD 201

-46.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$1.45 RSD 147

11.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$2.01 RSD 203

-24.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$0.69 RSD 69.3

84.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$0.36 RSD 36.41

197.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$1.09 RSD 110

-33.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.46 RSD 46.20

10.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$3.67 RSD 371

14.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$8.17 RSD 826

118.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$0.71 RSD 72.1

138.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$1.03 RSD 104

175.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$1.08 RSD 109

-13.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$1.52 RSD 154

-19.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$0.97 RSD 97.8

-40.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$5.38 RSD 543

-55.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$1.88 RSD 190

-25.00%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$32.1K RSD 3.2M

-33.11%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$26.6K RSD 2.7M

2.86%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$144 RSD 14.5K

-55.76%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$26.69 RSD 2,697

-51.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$19.95 RSD 2,017

1.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$30.69 RSD 3,102

26.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$14.00 RSD 1,415

-71.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$5.86 RSD 592

15.02%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$181 RSD 18.3K

329.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$4,009 RSD 405.2K

264.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$63.3 RSD 6,395

-14.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$67.9 RSD 6,858

-62.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$60.7 RSD 6,134

55.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$124 RSD 12.5K

-40.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$241 RSD 24.4K

103.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$157 RSD 15.9K

83.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$358 RSD 36.2K

149.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$269 RSD 27.2K

92.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$1,970 RSD 199.1K

-0.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$1,556 RSD 157.3K

-5.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$983 RSD 99.4K

-38.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.84

15.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sabac: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $241 in Sabac. 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 63% higher in Sabac, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Sabac. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $193 in Sabac – so Sabac 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 Sabac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Sabac, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,297 in Sabac. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabac, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $28.00 in Sabac. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabac, where all-in costs run around $865, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sabac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sabac costs $865 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Sabac. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.