😐A single person spends $2,228 per month in Graz vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,278 per month in Graz vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,327 per month in Graz vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Graz costs about 134% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Graz sits 62% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.54€15.08
$2.10฿68.8
735.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.1€53.4
$19.84฿651
212.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.21€12.21
$5.79฿190
145.42%
Cappuccino
$4.49€3.86
$1.83฿60.0
145.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21€3.62
$0.78฿25.43
439.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95€2.54
$0.31฿10.30
851.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.90€5.07
$2.34฿76.7
152.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33€4.58
$3.70฿121
44.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81€1.55
$2.03฿66.6
-10.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80€2.40
$1.60฿52.4
75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.11€2.67
$1.42฿46.43
119.01%
Eggs
$5.25€4.51
$2.18฿71.4
140.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.12€19.87
$15.91฿522
45.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.31€13.16
$3.07฿101
398.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.07€20.70
$9.87฿324
143.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14€2.70
$2.63฿86.2
19.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52€2.17
$1.10฿35.94
129.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25€2.79
$1.63฿53.5
99.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73€3.21
$1.53฿50.2
143.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.24฿40.84
60.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.13฿37.11
85.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91€1.64
$0.74฿24.21
158.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.81
$0.50฿16.37
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.97€6.85
$4.28฿140
86.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.40€8.08
$17.97฿590
-47.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.39
$1.70฿55.7
-5.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$2.90฿95.0
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.74€3.21
$0.94฿30.91
297.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.8€67.8
$55.3฿1,814
42.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.78€4.97
$1.23฿40.48
369.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71€2.33
$0.53฿17.53
411.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.46€31.34
$2.40฿78.8
1419.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96€1.68
$1.44฿47.22
36.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K€26.1K
$21.2K฿695.3K
43.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K€24.7K
$27.3K฿895.9K
5.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$398€342
$64.9฿2,130
513.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.63€12.58
$13.35฿438
9.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.30€30.35
$20.83฿684
69.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.52€33.98
$40.42฿1,326
-2.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55€19.39
$3.95฿130
470.89%
Cinema Ticket
$13.78€11.85
$6.71฿220
105.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$537€462
$787฿25.8K
-31.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,862€5,040
$15.1K฿496.2K
-61.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109€94.0
$56.2฿1,845
94.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.78€36.79
$24.95฿819
71.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112€96.0
$92.7฿3,042
20.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$175€151
$75.1฿2,465
133.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851€731
$484฿15.9K
75.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707€608
$287฿9,425
146.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,505€1,294
$910฿29.8K
65.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,178€1,013
$531฿17.4K
121.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,144€5,282
$1,980฿65.0K
210.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,399€2,922
$1,451฿47.6K
134.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Graz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,276€2,817
$605฿19.9K
441.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
5.57
-35.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Graz: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $851 in Graz versus $484 in Chiang Mai. 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 441% higher in Graz, 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 $62.0 in Graz versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $421 vs $242 – 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
Graz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Graz or Chiang Mai?
Graz costs about 134% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Graz and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,342 per month in Graz and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Graz or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Graz and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $537 per month in Graz and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Graz or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 74% more in Graz, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Graz or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Graz at $2,228. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Graz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Graz or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $2,228 in Graz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Graz compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Graz or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Graz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.