😐A single person spends $1,172 per month in Kalisz vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,651 per month in Kalisz vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,131 per month in Kalisz vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Kalisz costs about 24% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kalisz and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kalisz15% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.30zł 34.55
$2.08฿68.6
347.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.63zł 121
$19.64฿646
66.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28zł 34.46
$5.65฿186
64.25%
Cappuccino
$3.21zł 11.93
$1.81฿59.4
77.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88zł 6.98
$0.71฿23.45
164.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75zł 6.48
$0.32฿10.38
446.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.65zł 9.85
$2.24฿73.6
18.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73zł 10.13
$3.63฿119
-24.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04zł 3.84
$1.96฿64.4
-46.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31zł 4.88
$1.50฿49.39
-12.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67zł 6.19
$1.34฿43.93
24.63%
Eggs
$3.17zł 11.78
$2.26฿74.5
40.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29zł 30.80
$16.26฿535
-49.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72zł 17.53
$2.95฿97.1
60.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.95zł 36.96
$9.94฿327
0.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16zł 4.33
$2.57฿84.6
-54.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74zł 6.47
$1.06฿34.73
64.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62zł 6.03
$1.61฿53.0
0.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.24zł 12.04
$1.52฿49.97
113.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.83zł 3.09
$1.27฿41.77
-34.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06zł 3.93
$1.07฿35.06
-0.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37zł 5.08
$0.72฿23.68
90.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55zł 2.05
$0.51฿16.72
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.79zł 17.78
$4.19฿138
14.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43zł 27.61
$17.87฿587
-58.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92zł 3.43
$1.69฿55.7
-45.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.45
$2.84฿93.3
-48.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04zł 3.86
$0.93฿30.43
11.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.41zł 135
$53.9฿1,771
-32.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.19zł 8.14
$1.23฿40.59
78.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10zł 4.08
$0.58฿18.96
89.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.80zł 25.24
$2.42฿79.7
180.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57zł 5.84
$1.41฿46.43
11.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4Kzł 120.2K
$21.4K฿705.1K
50.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9Kzł 107.3K
$27.3K฿898.7K
5.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191zł 708
$63.7฿2,093
199.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.94zł 40.65
$12.85฿423
-14.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.01zł 66.9
$20.22฿665
-10.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.40zł 124
$38.74฿1,274
-13.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.53zł 24.24
$6.74฿222
-3.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261zł 970
$778฿25.6K
-66.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,298zł 19.7K
$14.6K฿480.4K
-63.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5zł 329
$54.3฿1,785
63.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.53zł 98.6
$25.45฿837
4.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2zł 309
$94.3฿3,102
-11.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.2zł 342
$73.4฿2,415
25.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$448zł 1,665
$490฿16.1K
-8.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$352zł 1,307
$289฿9,512
21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$553zł 2,055
$894฿29.4K
-38.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$455zł 1,690
$517฿17.0K
-12.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,044zł 7,593
$1,955฿64.3K
4.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,514zł 5,624
$1,477฿48.6K
2.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalisz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,230zł 4,570
$602฿19.8K
104.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.21
5.57
11.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalisz: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Kalisz versus $490 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 104% 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 $33.00 in Kalisz versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Kalisz vs $240 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 24% 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 $1,758 per month in Kalisz and $1,421 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 $261 per month in Kalisz and $778 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 21% 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 $947, than in Kalisz at $1,172. 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 $947 versus $1,172 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.