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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $709 per month in Kalush vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,074 per month in Kalush vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,440 per month in Kalush vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kalush is about 16% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kalush and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kalush 47% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.02 ₴314
$2.03 ฿68.5
245.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.14 ₴1,080
$18.71 ฿631
29.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.84 ₴261
$7.84 ฿265
-25.51%
Cappuccino
$1.16 ₴51.9
$1.93 ฿65.0
-39.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₴28.28
$0.83 ฿28.05
-24.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₴19.51
$0.35 ฿11.82
25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ₴42.20
$2.22 ฿74.9
-57.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₴64.3
$3.79 ฿128
-62.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 ₴47.02
$1.65 ฿55.5
-36.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 ₴28.62
$1.55 ฿52.4
-58.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ₴58.8
$1.18 ฿39.86
11.02%
Eggs
$1.55 ₴69.5
$2.01 ฿68.0
-22.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.98 ₴357
$16.16 ฿545
-50.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.90 ₴174
$3.03 ฿102
28.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.60 ₴295
$10.84 ฿366
-39.11%
Apples (1kg)
$0.82 ₴36.77
$2.68 ฿90.4
-69.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₴65.9
$1.22 ฿41.21
20.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 ₴70.2
$1.63 ฿54.9
-3.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ₴95.0
$1.53 ฿51.6
38.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₴28.89
$1.34 ฿45.18
-51.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ₴25.74
$1.21 ฿40.93
-52.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ₴58.3
$0.70 ฿23.67
85.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₴23.75
$0.53 ฿17.73
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60 ₴116
$4.69 ฿158
-44.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.38 ₴196
$17.71 ฿598
-75.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₴36.89
$1.85 ฿62.3
-55.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₴57.6
$3.21 ฿108
-59.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₴16.56
$0.89 ฿30.07
-58.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.76 ฿633
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₴80.1
$1.41 ฿47.48
26.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₴11.25
$1.29 ฿43.59
-80.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 ₴129
$7.79 ฿263
-63.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ₴59.1
$1.29 ฿43.67
2.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K ₴1.4M
$21.8K ฿734.7K
39.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K ₴1.1M
$21.7K ฿732.1K
12.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.8 ₴3,883
$70.0 ฿2,362
24.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.28 ₴236
$14.19 ฿479
-62.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.17 ₴276
$17.42 ฿588
-64.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.55 ₴1,098
$41.64 ฿1,405
-41.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.76 ₴437
$6.89 ฿233
41.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60 ₴161
$5.78 ฿195
-37.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$274 ₴12.3K
$300 ฿10.1K
-8.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,526 ₴157.8K
$14.5K ฿490.1K
-75.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.63 ₴2,176
$55.4 ฿1,869
-12.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.75 ₴1,510
$26.31 ฿888
28.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.7 ₴3,521
$84.8 ฿2,863
-7.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8 ₴3,972
$70.5 ฿2,379
25.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$269 ₴12.0K
$425 ฿14.4K
-36.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$204 ₴9,116
$235 ฿7,933
-13.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 ₴19.8K
$802 ฿27.1K
-44.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 ₴14.0K
$516 ฿17.4K
-39.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,027 ₴46.0K
$1,926 ฿65.0K
-46.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$783 ₴35.0K
$1,451 ฿49.0K
-46.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$266 ₴11.9K
$586 ฿19.8K
-54.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.17
5
223.40%

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

Last update for Kalush: July 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $269 in Kalush versus $425 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 121% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $24.00 in Kalush versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Kalush vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Kalush 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
Kalush vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalush or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Kalush, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Kalush and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,063 per month in Kalush and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kalush or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalush, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Kalush and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Kalush and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kalush or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 60% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kalush or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $709 in Kalush and $847 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalush or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kalush costs $709 versus $847 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kalush 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 Kalush or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kalush. 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.

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