Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Szombathely

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,222 in Szombathely, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
59

Cost of Living Index in Szombathely
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Szombathely Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Szombathely

🇭🇺 Hungary

$1,222

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,222 in Szombathely, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Szombathely $1,222

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,944 in Szombathely, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Szombathely $1,944

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,666 in Szombathely, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Szombathely $2,666

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Szombathely, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Szombathely are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Szombathely 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$11.43 Ft 3,746

-80.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$53.7 Ft 17.6K

-64.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$9.03 Ft 2,961

-38.54%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$2.36 Ft 772

-29.24%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$1.29 Ft 422

-50.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$1.22 Ft 399

-74.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.71 Ft 559

38.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.24 Ft 735

63.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.19 Ft 390

63.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.46

$1.63 Ft 534

-11.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.03

$2.49 Ft 817

-46.59%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$3.26 Ft 1,068

-30.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$10.39 Ft 3,405

58.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$6.78 Ft 2,224

-59.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$16.03 Ft 5,254

-41.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$2.23 Ft 729

5.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.79

$2.04 Ft 669

-52.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.39 Ft 783

-33.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$3.42 Ft 1,122

-56.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.11

$1.07 Ft 351

19.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.18

$1.39 Ft 456

-20.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.77 Ft 581

-59.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

$0.55 Ft 180

-10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$8.90 Ft 2,916

-53.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$4.45 Ft 1,457

293.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.27 Ft 416

26.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$2.52 Ft 827

10.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.30

$0.83 Ft 271

4.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

$26.83 Ft 8,795

101.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.04

$2.67 Ft 877

-56.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$1.33 Ft 436

-60.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

$23.51 Ft 7,705

-89.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.88

$1.81 Ft 594

-19.89%

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

$21.1K ฿710.5K

$27.3K Ft 9.0M

-22.98%

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

$26.9K ฿909.0K

$33.0K Ft 10.8M

-18.44%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$166 Ft 54.5K

-62.64%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$20.51 Ft 6,722

-40.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$21.05 Ft 6,900

-4.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$51.0 Ft 16.7K

-26.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$17.97 Ft 5,890

-79.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$4.46 Ft 1,463

45.52%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$433 Ft 141.8K

70.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.2K

$7,571 Ft 2.5M

95.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$100 Ft 32.9K

-46.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$51.6 Ft 16.9K

-52.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$96.0 Ft 31.5K

-4.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,427

$111 Ft 36.5K

-35.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$521 Ft 170.9K

-7.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$329 Ft 107.9K

-6.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$746 Ft 244.7K

34.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$643 Ft 210.7K

-1.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

$2,419 Ft 792.8K

-2.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,983 Ft 649.9K

-19.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,165 Ft 381.8K

-49.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.5

-25.73%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Szombathely: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Szombathely

$329 26.9% 6.6% $20

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Szombathely

$254 20.8% 8.5% $20

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Szombathely

$162 13.2% 48.8% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Szombathely

$208 17% 120% $113

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Szombathely

$170 13.9% 119% $92

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Szombathely

$39 3.2% 35.7% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Szombathely

$60 4.9% 19.2% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $521 in Szombathely. 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 97% higher in Szombathely. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $54 in Szombathely. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $254 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇭🇺 Szombathely

🕒 Local time

14:20 2:20 PM

08:20 8:20 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

77,757

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Hungarian Forint HUF Ft

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1,000 HUF = 3.05 USD

1,000 HUF = 2.73 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 328 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.05 USD). 1 EUR = 366 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.73 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Szombathely 7,920 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Szombathely

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 Szombathely: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Szombathely costs about 31% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,834 in Szombathely. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $521 in Szombathely. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $433 in Szombathely. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Szombathely, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,222 in Szombathely. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,222 in Szombathely. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Szombathely makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.