😐A single person spends $1,309 per month in Kielce vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,852 per month in Kielce vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,394 per month in Kielce vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Kielce costs about 51% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kielce and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kielce2% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75zł 39.20
$1.94฿63.5
454.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.40zł 147
$18.64฿609
116.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.58zł 23.98
$7.82฿255
-15.86%
Cappuccino
$3.02zł 11.02
$1.95฿63.8
54.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11zł 7.68
$0.85฿27.77
148.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85zł 3.10
$0.35฿11.58
142.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18zł 11.59
$2.13฿69.6
49.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99zł 14.53
$3.73฿122
6.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02zł 3.72
$1.71฿56.0
-40.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44zł 5.24
$1.63฿53.2
-11.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17zł 4.28
$1.14฿37.15
2.63%
Eggs
$3.26zł 11.89
$1.93฿63.1
68.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.69zł 31.70
$16.21฿530
-46.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.78zł 24.70
$3.12฿102
117.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.82zł 46.74
$10.90฿356
17.61%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94zł 3.41
$2.75฿90.0
-65.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47zł 5.37
$1.21฿39.52
21.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60zł 5.84
$1.62฿53.0
-1.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82zł 10.27
$1.59฿51.8
77.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60zł 2.17
$1.40฿45.70
-57.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58zł 2.12
$1.17฿38.17
-50.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71zł 6.22
$0.66฿21.60
159.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47zł 1.71
$0.53฿17.22
-11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14zł 18.73
$4.69฿153
9.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.76zł 24.64
$18.66฿609
-63.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28zł 4.65
$1.80฿58.8
-28.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50zł 5.49
$3.23฿106
-53.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12zł 4.09
$0.90฿29.26
24.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.78zł 120
$19.21฿628
70.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.38zł 8.66
$1.41฿45.91
68.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73zł 2.68
$1.29฿42.12
-43.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.04zł 54.9
$7.84฿256
91.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73zł 6.30
$1.27฿41.58
36.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0Kzł 123.8K
$21.3K฿694.9K
59.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3Kzł 106.9K
$22.2K฿725.4K
31.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208zł 758
$69.1฿2,256
201.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.44zł 30.76
$14.08฿460
-40.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.20zł 44.48
$18.00฿588
-32.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.98zł 113
$41.06฿1,341
-24.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39zł 74.4
$6.96฿227
192.96%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02zł 29.24
$5.92฿193
35.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275zł 1,002
$299฿9,766
-8.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,920zł 21.6K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-60.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3zł 282
$54.7฿1,787
41.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.17zł 179
$26.77฿874
83.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4zł 293
$85.0฿2,776
-5.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112zł 408
$70.6฿2,306
58.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558zł 2,035
$428฿14.0K
30.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446zł 1,626
$237฿7,752
87.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$793zł 2,891
$801฿26.2K
-1.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597zł 2,178
$515฿16.8K
15.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,348zł 12.2K
$1,975฿64.5K
69.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,589zł 9,442
$1,475฿48.2K
75.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kielce
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,435zł 5,233
$617฿20.2K
132.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.97
5
19.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kielce: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $558 in Kielce versus $428 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 132% higher in Kielce, 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 $40.00 in Kielce versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Kielce vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Kielce 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
Kielce vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kielce or Chiang Mai?
Kielce costs about 51% 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 Kielce vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,964 per month in Kielce and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kielce 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 Kielce and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $275 per month in Kielce and $299 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 Kielce or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Kielce – 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 Kielce or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Kielce at $1,309. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kielce it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kielce or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,309 in Kielce. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kielce 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 Kielce or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kielce makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.