Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Stara Pazova

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,030 in Stara Pazova, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Stara Pazova, Serbia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Stara Pazova
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,030
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Stara Pazova

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,030 in Stara Pazova, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Stara Pazova $1,030

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,514 in Stara Pazova, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Stara Pazova $1,514

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,998 in Stara Pazova, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Stara Pazova $1,998

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Stara Pazova, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Stara Pazova are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Stara Pazova 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.7
$10.68 RSD 1,126
-79.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿642
$33.09 RSD 3,486
-42.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿188
$7.06 RSD 744
-21.39%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.6
$1.97 RSD 208
-15.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.56
$1.72 RSD 181
-62.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$1.12 RSD 118
-72.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$2.07 RSD 218
14.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$2.59 RSD 273
41.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.33 RSD 140
46.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$0.57 RSD 60.4
152.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.07
$1.84 RSD 194
-27.72%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$2.47 RSD 260
-7.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿556
$9.62 RSD 1,014
71.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$6.43 RSD 677
-56.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$11.29 RSD 1,189
-17.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.5
$1.01 RSD 107
132.67%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.82
$1.59 RSD 168
-38.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.64 RSD 173
-2.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$1.95 RSD 206
-23.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.15
$0.99 RSD 105
29.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.22
$0.92 RSD 96.9
19.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.84
$0.57 RSD 60.3
24.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.38
$0.60 RSD 63.1
-18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$4.29 RSD 452
-3.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿592
$5.23 RSD 551
234.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$0.90 RSD 94.6
78.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$1.26 RSD 132
120.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.33
$0.92 RSD 96.8
-5.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,827
$23.75 RSD 2,503
127.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.08
$1.44 RSD 152
-19.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.82
$1.01 RSD 106
-47.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$5.17 RSD 545
-53.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.73 RSD 182
-16.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿711.2K
$29.9K RSD 3.2M
-29.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.8K
$24.6K RSD 2.6M
9.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,100
$182 RSD 19.1K
-65.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$20.39 RSD 2,148
-40.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿680
$25.91 RSD 2,730
-22.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,260
$29.51 RSD 3,109
26.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$16.98 RSD 1,789
-77.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$4.24 RSD 447
53.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.9K
$176 RSD 18.5K
319.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.6K
$3,843 RSD 404.9K
284.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,802
$52.4 RSD 5,516
1.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿832
$16.83 RSD 1,774
46.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,089
$86.4 RSD 9,100
5.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,429
$118 RSD 12.4K
-38.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$310 RSD 32.7K
55.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$257 RSD 27.0K
20.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿34.0K
$426 RSD 44.9K
136.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$371 RSD 39.1K
70.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$1,464 RSD 154.2K
61.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.7K
$1,209 RSD 127.4K
31.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Stara Pazova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$621 RSD 65.5K
-5.08%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Stara Pazova: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Stara Pazova
$257 16.9% $52
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Stara Pazova
$194 17.3% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Stara Pazova
$123 13.1% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Stara Pazova
$228 141% $133
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Stara Pazova
$157 103% $80
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Stara Pazova
$34 44.8% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Stara Pazova
$38 24.4% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $310 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 5% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $33 in Stara Pazova. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $194 in Stara Pazova – so Stara Pazova wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇷🇸 Stara Pazova
🕒 Local time
19:01 7:01 PM
13:01 1:01 PM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
18,522
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

RSD, 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 = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 105 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.49 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Stara Pazova 7,680 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Stara Pazova

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 Stara Pazova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Stara Pazova?
Stara Pazova costs about 10% 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 Stara Pazova?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,545 in Stara Pazova. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Stara Pazova?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stara Pazova, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $310 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Stara Pazova?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $176 in Stara Pazova. 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 Stara Pazova?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Stara Pazova – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Stara Pazova?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,030 in Stara Pazova. 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 Stara Pazova?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,030 in Stara Pazova. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Stara Pazova?
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 Stara Pazova?
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.

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