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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $902 in Valjevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,358 in Valjevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,814 in Valjevo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Valjevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Valjevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Valjevo 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$6.05 RSD 606

-65.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$29.59 RSD 2,965

-33.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$10.35 RSD 1,037

-43.48%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.89 RSD 189

-6.88%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$1.94 RSD 195

-61.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$1.76 RSD 176

-81.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$2.73 RSD 274

-9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.57 RSD 258

50.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.13 RSD 113

68.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.62 RSD 62.3

169.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.77 RSD 177

-23.73%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.41 RSD 241

-11.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$4.97 RSD 499

219.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$6.07 RSD 608

-53.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$11.01 RSD 1,103

-4.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.06 RSD 107

124.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.78 RSD 179

-39.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.44 RSD 144

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$2.16 RSD 216

-30.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.80 RSD 80.2

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.51 RSD 50.8

115.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.62 RSD 61.8

11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.58 RSD 58.2

-15.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$4.39 RSD 440

-2.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$5.73 RSD 574

192.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.71 RSD 71.6

133.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.28 RSD 128

119.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.62 RSD 61.7

45.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$24.11 RSD 2,416

127.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.79 RSD 78.9

51.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.66 RSD 65.9

-18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$8.26 RSD 828

-71.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.78 RSD 178

-19.66%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$31.8K RSD 3.2M

-33.73%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$24.7K RSD 2.5M

9.94%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$78.2 RSD 7,841

-17.25%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$20.16 RSD 2,020

-34.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$23.08 RSD 2,314

-15.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$29.91 RSD 2,998

31.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$14.09 RSD 1,413

-73.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.83 RSD 484

37.06%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$252 RSD 25.3K

219.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$4,996 RSD 500.7K

202.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$39.17 RSD 3,926

39.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$34.32 RSD 3,440

-25.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$102 RSD 10.3K

-10.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$115 RSD 11.5K

-35.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$317 RSD 31.8K

47.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$264 RSD 26.5K

6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$455 RSD 45.6K

95.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$371 RSD 37.2K

40.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,086 RSD 209.1K

-4.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,580 RSD 158.3K

-7.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$712 RSD 71.4K

-16.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.94

12.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Valjevo: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $317 in Valjevo. 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 20% higher in Valjevo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Valjevo. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Valjevo – so Valjevo 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 Valjevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Valjevo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,353 in Valjevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valjevo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $252 in Valjevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Valjevo, where all-in costs run around $902, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Valjevo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Valjevo costs $902 versus $920 in Chiang Mai. 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 Valjevo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.