Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Herceg Novi and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $1,257 in Herceg Novi, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Herceg Novi
🇲🇪 Montenegro
$1,257
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Herceg Novi and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Herceg Novi and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,257 per month in Herceg Novi vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Herceg Novi $1,257
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,997 per month in Herceg Novi vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Herceg Novi $1,997
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $2,737 per month in Herceg Novi vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Herceg Novi $2,737
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Herceg Novi costs about 36% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Herceg Novi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Herceg Novi 7% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.23 €9.99
$2.29 ฿76.5
390.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.29 €32.28
$19.64 ฿656
84.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.16 €8.15
$5.61 ฿188
63.28%
Cappuccino
$2.65 €2.36
$1.66 ฿55.6
59.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 €2.23
$0.70 ฿23.40
257.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 €1.45
$0.31 ฿10.24
425.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 €2.53
$2.41 ฿80.4
17.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 €2.97
$3.71 ฿124
-9.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 €1.07
$1.95 ฿65.3
-38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 €0.90
$1.41 ฿47.03
-28.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.93 €2.61
$1.31 ฿43.62
123.66%
Eggs
$2.98 €2.65
$2.18 ฿72.9
36.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.02 €8.02
$16.65 ฿556
-45.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.43 €6.61
$2.76 ฿92.2
169.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.99 €11.56
$9.11 ฿304
42.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.33 €1.18
$2.39 ฿80.0
-44.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 €1.39
$1.03 ฿34.26
52.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 €1.45
$1.63 ฿54.4
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 €2.63
$1.50 ฿50.0
97.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 €0.85
$1.29 ฿43.13
-26.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.11 ฿37.03
16.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 €1.37
$0.72 ฿24.08
113.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.85
$0.53 ฿17.59
79.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 €3.56
$4.31 ฿144
-7.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.37 €3.89
$17.95 ฿600
-75.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$1.58 ฿52.9
-18.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.84 ฿95.0
-38.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 €1.46
$0.86 ฿28.86
90.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.46 €39.55
$53.3 ฿1,780
-16.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 €2.53
$1.21 ฿40.29
134.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.97
$0.57 ฿18.99
92.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €15.20
$2.35 ฿78.6
627.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.53
$1.44 ฿47.96
19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K €28.8K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
55.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K €19.0K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-20.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 €121
$62.3 ฿2,083
118.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14 €11.69
$12.11 ฿405
8.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.88 €30.14
$19.94 ฿666
69.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 €50.3
$37.07 ฿1,239
52.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.39 €10.13
$3.78 ฿126
201.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 €6.94
$6.50 ฿217
20.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$444 €395
$793 ฿26.5K
-44.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,024 €6,248
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-52.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3 €75.0
$53.7 ฿1,796
56.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.74 €30.01
$24.62 ฿823
37.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 €64.7
$90.9 ฿3,036
-20.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 €85.2
$71.1 ฿2,378
34.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$651 €579
$455 ฿15.2K
42.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 €355
$298 ฿9,954
33.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 €1,118
$908 ฿30.4K
38.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$888 €790
$554 ฿18.5K
60.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,685 €3,278
$1,931 ฿64.5K
90.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,421 €2,153
$1,445 ฿48.3K
67.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herceg Novi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,031 €917
$591 ฿19.7K
74.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.57
-10.23%

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

Last update for Herceg Novi: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Herceg Novi
$399
Chiang Mai
$298 25.3% $101
Groceries & Markets
Herceg Novi
$228
Chiang Mai
$235 3.3% $7.4
Eating Out
Herceg Novi
$187
Chiang Mai
$79 57.9% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herceg Novi
$183
Chiang Mai
$94 48.5% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Herceg Novi
$129
Chiang Mai
$108 16.1% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Herceg Novi
$72
Chiang Mai
$50 30.6% $22
Getting Around
Herceg Novi
$59
Chiang Mai
$61 2.4% $1.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $651 in Herceg Novi versus $455 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 75% higher in Herceg Novi, 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 $36.00 in Herceg Novi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Herceg Novi vs $235 in Chiang Mai – so Herceg Novi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇪 Herceg Novi
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
12:53 12:53 PM
17:53 5:53 PM
5 h ahead of Herceg Novi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,059
127,240
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Herceg Novi Chiang Mai 7,840 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Herceg Novi
  • Chiang Mai

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
Herceg Novi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Herceg Novi or Chiang Mai?
Herceg Novi costs about 36% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Herceg Novi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,886 per month in Herceg Novi and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Herceg Novi 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 Herceg Novi and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $444 per month in Herceg Novi and $793 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 Herceg Novi or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Herceg Novi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Herceg Novi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Herceg Novi at $1,257. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Herceg Novi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Herceg Novi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $1,257 in Herceg Novi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Herceg Novi 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 Herceg Novi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Herceg Novi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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