Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Stara Pazova Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Stara Pazova

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,016 in Stara Pazova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,505 in Stara Pazova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,995 in Stara Pazova, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Stara Pazova, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Stara Pazova are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Stara Pazova 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.99 RSD 904

-78.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$35.14 RSD 3,534

-46.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.74 RSD 577

36.24%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.97 RSD 198

-1.02%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.97 RSD 198

-56.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.17 RSD 117

-70.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.34 RSD 236

-8.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.84 RSD 286

31.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.39 RSD 139

23.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.61 RSD 61.6

167.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.80 RSD 181

-36.67%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.57 RSD 259

-24.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.31 RSD 937

74.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.84 RSD 688

-54.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.95 RSD 1,101

-0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.21 RSD 122

127.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.62 RSD 163

-25.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.72 RSD 173

-5.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.79 RSD 180

-11.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.93 RSD 93.9

50.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.99 RSD 99.7

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.66 RSD 66.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.64 RSD 64.3

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.25 RSD 427

10.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.52 RSD 556

238.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.85 RSD 85.8

111.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.03 RSD 104

213.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.99 RSD 99.2

-9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$35.18 RSD 3,538

-45.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.07 RSD 108

31.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.67 RSD 67.9

92.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.97 RSD 500

57.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.79 RSD 180

-29.05%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

-30.55%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

-16.30%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$142 RSD 14.3K

-51.43%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.78 RSD 1,386

2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$23.67 RSD 2,381

-23.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$30.71 RSD 3,089

33.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.44 RSD 1,653

-57.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.75 RSD 477

24.63%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$183 RSD 18.4K

63.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,902 RSD 392.4K

283.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$54.5 RSD 5,480

0.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$14.82 RSD 1,490

80.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$99.2 RSD 9,978

-14.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$119 RSD 12.0K

-40.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$376 RSD 37.8K

13.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$294 RSD 29.6K

-19.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$566 RSD 57.0K

41.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$407 RSD 40.9K

26.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,514 RSD 152.3K

30.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,243 RSD 125.0K

18.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$663 RSD 66.7K

-6.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Stara Pazova: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $376 in Stara Pazova. 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 7% higher in Stara Pazova, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Stara Pazova. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $197 in Stara Pazova – so Stara Pazova 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 Stara Pazova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stara Pazova costs about 17% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,524 in Stara Pazova. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $183 in Stara Pazova. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Stara Pazova – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Stara Pazova at $1,016. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stara Pazova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,016 in Stara Pazova. 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, Stara Pazova makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.