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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,569 per month in Kotor vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,511 per month in Kotor vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,454 per month in Kotor vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kotor costs about 81% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kotor sits 17% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.49 €14.20
$1.98 ฿64.3
732.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9 €49.85
$18.80 ฿612
207.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 €8.12
$7.75 ฿252
21.68%
Cappuccino
$2.68 €2.31
$1.92 ฿62.5
39.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.97
$0.79 ฿25.79
188.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.29
$0.36 ฿11.62
313.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 €2.48
$2.21 ฿72.1
30.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 €3.19
$3.66 ฿119
1.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 €1.22
$1.65 ฿53.8
-14.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 €0.88
$1.63 ฿53.2
-37.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 €2.07
$1.19 ฿38.86
101.68%
Eggs
$3.13 €2.70
$2.00 ฿65.1
56.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.90 €7.67
$15.98 ฿520
-44.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.14 €7.02
$3.03 ฿98.5
168.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 €10.38
$10.86 ฿354
10.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 €1.08
$2.76 ฿90.0
-54.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 €1.57
$1.18 ฿38.42
54.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 €1.38
$1.64 ฿53.5
-2.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.21
$1.52 ฿49.51
69.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 €0.83
$1.38 ฿45.10
-30.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 €0.95
$1.19 ฿38.84
-7.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 €1.48
$0.70 ฿22.86
145.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.56 ฿18.13
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21 €3.62
$4.58 ฿149
-8.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.51 €5.61
$16.56 ฿539
-60.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.83 ฿59.5
-30.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 €1.60
$3.20 ฿104
-42.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 €1.26
$0.88 ฿28.56
65.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.30 €32.14
$18.72 ฿610
99.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 €0.58
$1.36 ฿44.16
-50.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.92
$1.34 ฿43.65
-20.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.77 €10.14
$7.84 ฿256
50.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 €1.44
$1.23 ฿39.92
35.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K €24.9K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
33.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K €23.1K
$22.5K ฿734.3K
19.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 €108
$70.5 ฿2,298
77.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.06 €15.56
$13.68 ฿445
32.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.58 €28.07
$17.45 ฿568
86.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.84 €38.64
$41.33 ฿1,346
8.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.54 €12.53
$6.96 ฿227
108.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 €4.90
$5.77 ฿188
-1.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 €242
$307 ฿10.0K
-8.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,488 €6,452
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-48.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.9 €72.3
$55.8 ฿1,817
50.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.46 €39.17
$26.21 ฿854
73.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 €82.0
$85.8 ฿2,793
11.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 €95.1
$72.2 ฿2,353
52.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 €606
$430 ฿14.0K
63.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 €577
$239 ฿7,774
180.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 €1,071
$817 ฿26.6K
52.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 €1,163
$511 ฿16.6K
164.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,959 €3,411
$1,983 ฿64.6K
99.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,886 €2,487
$1,484 ฿48.3K
94.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kotor
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 €850
$619 ฿20.2K
59.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.93
5
18.60%

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

Last update for Kotor: June 9, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $703 in Kotor versus $430 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 59% higher in Kotor, 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 $58.0 in Kotor versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Kotor vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Kotor 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
Kotor vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kotor or Chiang Mai?
Kotor costs about 81% 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 Kotor vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,353 per month in Kotor and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kotor 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 Kotor and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Kotor and $307 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 Kotor or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Kotor – 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 Kotor or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Kotor at $1,569. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kotor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kotor or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,569 in Kotor. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kotor 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 Kotor or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kotor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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