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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,141 in Szekesfehervar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,854 in Szekesfehervar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,567 in Szekesfehervar, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Szekesfehervar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Szekesfehervar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Szekesfehervar 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$10.05 Ft 3,197

-79.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$62.7 Ft 20.0K

-68.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.75 Ft 2,783

-35.20%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.28 Ft 726

-20.61%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.44 Ft 458

-46.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.09 Ft 348

-67.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.09 Ft 665

5.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.42 Ft 770

56.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.18 Ft 374

73.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.48 Ft 471

2.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.69 Ft 854

-47.96%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.61 Ft 1,147

-37.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$10.05 Ft 3,197

61.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$6.51 Ft 2,070

-55.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$16.27 Ft 5,174

-42.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.11 Ft 672

27.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.24 Ft 714

-51.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.03 Ft 647

-20.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$3.15 Ft 1,001

-53.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.08 Ft 343

18.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.18 Ft 375

-10.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.55 Ft 494

-53.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.49 Ft 156

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.70 Ft 2,132

-36.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$3.13 Ft 994

484.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.30 Ft 413

25.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.11 Ft 672

37.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$1.28 Ft 406

-31.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$27.52 Ft 8,753

95.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$3.16 Ft 1,005

-62.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.70 Ft 540

-65.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$18.98 Ft 6,039

-87.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.89 Ft 602

-23.28%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$28.0K Ft 8.9M

-24.89%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$31.1K Ft 9.9M

-14.96%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$131 Ft 41.5K

-51.23%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$28.57 Ft 9,088

-54.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$19.92 Ft 6,337

3.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$47.27 Ft 15.0K

-17.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$8.72 Ft 2,773

-24.54%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$257 Ft 81.9K

204.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,989 Ft 2.2M

109.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$70.1 Ft 22.3K

-21.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$25.20 Ft 8,017

-1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$78.2 Ft 24.9K

20.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$86.3 Ft 27.5K

-14.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$403 Ft 128.2K

21.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$314 Ft 100.0K

-8.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$640 Ft 203.5K

39.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$674 Ft 214.5K

-22.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$3,505 Ft 1.1M

-43.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$3,191 Ft 1.0M

-54.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$1,519 Ft 483.2K

-60.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.67

-16.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Szekesfehervar: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $403 in Szekesfehervar. 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 152% higher in Szekesfehervar, 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 $63.0 in Szekesfehervar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Szekesfehervar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Szekesfehervar costs about 22% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,711 in Szekesfehervar. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $257 in Szekesfehervar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Szekesfehervar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Szekesfehervar at $1,141. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szekesfehervar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,141 in Szekesfehervar. 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, Szekesfehervar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.