😐A single person spends $1,173 per month in Kalisz vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,705 per month in Kalisz vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Kalisz vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Kalisz costs about 36% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kalisz and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kalisz12% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.25zł 38.93
$1.96฿65.9
422.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.81zł 178
$18.35฿617
155.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23zł 31.25
$7.48฿252
10.03%
Cappuccino
$2.91zł 11.04
$2.02฿67.8
44.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30zł 8.74
$0.85฿28.52
170.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92zł 7.28
$0.36฿11.97
433.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50zł 13.28
$2.14฿71.9
63.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64zł 10.04
$3.59฿121
-26.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02zł 3.89
$1.65฿55.5
-38.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47zł 5.59
$1.57฿52.7
-6.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78zł 6.74
$1.19฿40.05
49.58%
Eggs
$3.52zł 13.36
$1.94฿65.1
81.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.31zł 31.54
$16.19฿545
-48.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.64zł 17.62
$2.99฿101
55.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.74zł 37.01
$10.94฿368
-10.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23zł 4.68
$2.71฿91.2
-54.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67zł 6.35
$1.17฿39.27
42.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70zł 6.47
$1.69฿56.8
0.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.32zł 12.61
$1.60฿54.0
107.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87zł 3.29
$1.38฿46.56
-36.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10zł 4.18
$1.20฿40.47
-8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29zł 4.89
$0.67฿22.51
92.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62zł 2.36
$0.56฿18.74
10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03zł 19.10
$4.64฿156
8.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.34zł 27.88
$17.62฿593
-58.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98zł 3.73
$1.86฿62.6
-47.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48zł 5.62
$3.30฿111
-55.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 4.04
$0.88฿29.70
20.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.46zł 142
$19.34฿651
93.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.15zł 8.15
$1.36฿45.92
58.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77zł 2.91
$1.34฿45.00
-42.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.66zł 40.48
$8.21฿276
29.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70zł 6.46
$1.22฿41.20
39.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5Kzł 127.1K
$21.4K฿718.5K
56.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3Kzł 115.2K
$22.5K฿758.1K
34.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196zł 745
$70.7฿2,378
177.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.97zł 34.08
$14.04฿472
-36.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.09zł 64.9
$17.49฿589
-2.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.75zł 136
$42.15฿1,418
-15.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.92zł 75.7
$6.88฿231
189.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80zł 25.84
$5.92฿199
14.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463zł 1,758
$309฿10.4K
50.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,384zł 20.4K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-63.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2zł 354
$55.8฿1,876
67.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.11zł 103
$26.11฿879
3.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.4zł 321
$83.0฿2,793
1.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.4zł 362
$70.5฿2,371
35.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$456zł 1,731
$432฿14.5K
5.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348zł 1,320
$239฿8,040
45.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$544zł 2,068
$822฿27.7K
-33.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$460zł 1,746
$512฿17.2K
-10.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,043zł 7,758
$1,915฿64.4K
6.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,526zł 5,797
$1,467฿49.4K
4.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,201zł 4,562
$579฿19.5K
107.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.4
5
28.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalisz: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Kalisz versus $432 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 107% higher in Kalisz, 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 $47.00 in Kalisz versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Kalisz vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Kalisz 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
Kalisz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalisz or Chiang Mai?
Kalisz costs about 36% 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 Kalisz and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,759 per month in Kalisz and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kalisz 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 Kalisz and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $463 per month in Kalisz and $309 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 Kalisz or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Kalisz – 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 Kalisz or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Kalisz at $1,173. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalisz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalisz or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,173 in Kalisz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kalisz 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 Kalisz or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kalisz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.