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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,224 in Tarnow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,704 in Tarnow, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,185 in Tarnow, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Tarnow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Tarnow are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tarnow 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$10.59 zł 39.34

-80.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$26.48 zł 98.3

-25.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.71 zł 24.92

-15.80%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.64 zł 9.82

-31.44%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$2.25 zł 8.36

-68.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$1.31 zł 4.86

-75.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$4.15 zł 15.40

-46.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.98 zł 14.79

-8.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.98 zł 3.64

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$1.22 zł 4.54

22.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.35 zł 5.02

-0.74%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$2.65 zł 9.85

-14.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$8.12 zł 30.17

100.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.22 zł 23.09

-52.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$10.19 zł 37.83

-2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$0.79 zł 2.95

225.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.57 zł 5.81

-32.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.36 zł 5.06

18.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.00 zł 7.41

-24.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.79 zł 2.94

60.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$1.10 zł 4.07

-2.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$1.04 zł 3.87

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.79 zł 2.95

-35.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.44 zł 16.48

-5.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$6.54 zł 24.28

173.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.95 zł 3.53

77.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.46 zł 5.42

94.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.99 zł 3.69

-6.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$31.60 zł 117

70.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.35 zł 5.02

-8.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.77 zł 2.85

-24.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$10.79 zł 40.06

-77.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.58 zł 5.87

-10.76%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$32.0K zł 119.0K

-33.06%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$25.7K zł 95.4K

6.38%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$252 zł 937

-74.77%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$9.85 zł 36.58

30.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$17.19 zł 63.8

17.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$26.33 zł 97.8

47.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$11.99 zł 44.52

-66.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.89 zł 18.16

37.83%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$297 zł 1,103

161.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$2,616 zł 9,716

458.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$83.2 zł 309

-34.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$26.53 zł 98.6

-4.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$79.7 zł 296

18.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$116 zł 431

-36.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$454 zł 1,688

7.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$363 zł 1,348

-20.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$640 zł 2,378

39.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$488 zł 1,813

5.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,785 zł 10.3K

-29.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$1,832 zł 6,806

-19.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$1,071 zł 3,980

-43.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.68

-16.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tarnow: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $454 in Tarnow. 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 78% higher in Tarnow, 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 $26.00 in Tarnow. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Tarnow – so Tarnow 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 Tarnow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarnow costs about 29% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,836 in Tarnow. 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $297 in Tarnow. 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 Tarnow – 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 $947, than in Tarnow at $1,224. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tarnow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,224 in Tarnow. 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, Tarnow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.