Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Siofok

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,249 in Siofok, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Siofok, Hungary
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Siofok
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,249
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,249 in Siofok, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Siofok $1,249

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,022 in Siofok, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Siofok $2,022

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,795 in Siofok, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Siofok $2,795

Chiang Mai is about 25% cheaper than Siofok, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Siofok are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Siofok 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.7
$21.48 Ft 7,081
-89.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿642
$53.9 Ft 17.8K
-64.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿188
$7.78 Ft 2,566
-28.66%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.6
$2.54 Ft 838
-34.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.56
$2.42 Ft 797
-73.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$1.70 Ft 561
-81.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$3.25 Ft 1,072
-27.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$3.70 Ft 1,221
-1.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.39 Ft 458
40.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$1.32 Ft 434
9.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.07
$2.07 Ft 683
-35.75%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$3.62 Ft 1,193
-37.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿556
$8.94 Ft 2,948
84.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$5.71 Ft 1,881
-51.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$16.88 Ft 5,564
-44.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.5
$1.63 Ft 536
44.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.82
$2.05 Ft 676
-52.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.99 Ft 655
-19.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$2.86 Ft 942
-47.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.15
$2.00 Ft 660
-36.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.22
$1.24 Ft 409
-11.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.84
$1.13 Ft 373
-37.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.38
$0.55 Ft 180
-10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$7.17 Ft 2,365
-42.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿592
$4.64 Ft 1,531
277.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.01 Ft 335
59.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$1.41 Ft 465
97.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.33
$1.20 Ft 397
-27.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,827
$26.51 Ft 8,740
104.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.08
$2.94 Ft 969
-60.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.82
$1.44 Ft 474
-63.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$19.11 Ft 6,300
-87.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.97 Ft 651
-26.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿711.2K
$27.4K Ft 9.0M
-23.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.8K
$33.8K Ft 11.1M
-20.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,100
$150 Ft 49.5K
-58.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$23.49 Ft 7,744
-48.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿680
$21.18 Ft 6,982
-5.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,260
$51.2 Ft 16.9K
-27.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$18.66 Ft 6,150
-79.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$8.73 Ft 2,878
-25.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.9K
$244 Ft 80.5K
201.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.6K
$7,589 Ft 2.5M
94.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,802
$89.3 Ft 29.4K
-40.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿832
$31.32 Ft 10.3K
-21.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,089
$84.7 Ft 27.9K
8.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,429
$101 Ft 33.3K
-28.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$390 Ft 128.6K
23.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$306 Ft 100.7K
1.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿34.0K
$764 Ft 251.9K
31.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$643 Ft 212.1K
-1.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$3,298 Ft 1.1M
-28.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.7K
$2,664 Ft 878.4K
-40.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Siofok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$1,141 Ft 376.3K
-48.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9
-38.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Siofok: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Siofok
$306 1.1% $3.4
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Siofok
$235 0.4% $0.8
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Siofok
$138 26.8% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Siofok
$195 106% $100
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Siofok
$266 243% $188
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Siofok
$41 32.4% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Siofok
$69 36.6% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $390 in Siofok. 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 94% higher in Siofok. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $54 in Siofok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇭🇺 Siofok
🕒 Local time
02:02 2:02 AM
20:02 8:02 PM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
24,021
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 330 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.03 USD). 1 EUR = 367 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.72 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Siofok 7,820 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Siofok

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 Siofok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Siofok?
Siofok costs about 34% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Siofok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,874 in Siofok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Siofok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Siofok, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $390 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Siofok?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $54 in Siofok. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Siofok?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Siofok. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Siofok?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,249 in Siofok. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Siofok?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,249 in Siofok. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Siofok?
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 Siofok?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Siofok makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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