ðA single person spends $1,303 per month in Kretinga vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,030 per month in Kretinga vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $2,756 per month in Kretinga vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðKretinga costs about 53% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth Kretinga and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median â Kretinga3% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39âŽ9.73
$1.96āļŋ63.6
481.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3âŽ58.3
$18.81āļŋ611
262.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.75âŽ5.76
$7.92āļŋ258
-14.77%
Cappuccino
$3.04âŽ2.59
$1.91āļŋ62.2
59.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05âŽ1.75
$0.84āļŋ27.25
144.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02âŽ1.73
$0.35āļŋ11.44
477.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.16âŽ4.41
$2.21āļŋ71.7
133.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18âŽ4.43
$3.80āļŋ124
36.32%
ð Groceries & Markets
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33âŽ1.13
$1.64āļŋ53.2
-18.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51âŽ1.29
$1.62āļŋ52.8
-6.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07âŽ1.76
$1.18āļŋ38.40
75.42%
Eggs
$2.86âŽ2.44
$2.01āļŋ65.4
42.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.63âŽ9.08
$15.89āļŋ517
-33.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.30âŽ4.53
$3.01āļŋ98.0
76.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.10âŽ8.63
$10.77āļŋ350
-6.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42âŽ1.21
$2.61āļŋ85.0
-45.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60âŽ1.36
$1.22āļŋ39.65
31.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72âŽ1.47
$1.70āļŋ55.4
1.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13âŽ2.67
$1.58āļŋ51.2
98.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76âŽ0.65
$1.32āļŋ42.89
-42.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91âŽ0.78
$1.17āļŋ38.01
-22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51âŽ1.29
$0.67āļŋ21.85
125.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87âŽ0.74
$0.56āļŋ18.21
55.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52âŽ4.71
$4.53āļŋ147
21.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.56âŽ7.31
$18.20āļŋ592
-52.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69âŽ1.44
$1.83āļŋ59.6
-7.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73âŽ1.48
$3.23āļŋ105
-46.44%
ð Getting Around
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17âŽ1.00
$0.89āļŋ28.83
31.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.67âŽ28.76
$19.38āļŋ630
73.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16âŽ2.70
$1.35āļŋ43.95
134.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16âŽ0.99
$1.35āļŋ43.79
-14.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.50âŽ11.53
$8.25āļŋ268
63.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63âŽ1.39
$1.27āļŋ41.40
28.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6KâŽ29.5K
$21.2Kāļŋ687.8K
63.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KâŽ24.7K
$22.5Kāļŋ731.0K
28.77%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212âŽ181
$70.2āļŋ2,281
202.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84âŽ11.82
$13.77āļŋ448
0.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.80âŽ12.64
$17.60āļŋ572
-15.91%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.99âŽ35.86
$41.57āļŋ1,352
1.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.97âŽ19.61
$6.60āļŋ215
248.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.31âŽ7.95
$5.78āļŋ188
61.07%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$467âŽ399
$306āļŋ9,953
52.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,164âŽ7,826
$14.8Kāļŋ482.0K
-38.19%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2âŽ73.7
$54.4āļŋ1,768
58.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.78âŽ36.54
$26.14āļŋ850
63.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.4âŽ71.2
$84.5āļŋ2,748
-1.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130âŽ111
$69.4āļŋ2,257
86.52%
ð Accommodation & Living
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$533âŽ456
$424āļŋ13.8K
25.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357âŽ305
$238āļŋ7,743
50.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828âŽ707
$825āļŋ26.8K
0.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646âŽ551
$515āļŋ16.7K
25.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,428âŽ2,074
$2,049āļŋ66.6K
18.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,790âŽ1,529
$1,523āļŋ49.5K
17.57%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Kretinga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,173âŽ1,002
$635āļŋ20.6K
84.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.13
5
-17.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kretinga: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $533 in Kretinga versus $424 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.
ð°Salaries run about 85% higher in Kretinga, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Kretinga versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story â $226 in Kretinga vs $243 in Chiang Mai â so Kretinga 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
Kretinga vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kretinga or Chiang Mai?
Kretinga costs about 53% 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 Kretinga vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,954 per month in Kretinga and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kretinga 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 Kretinga and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $467 per month in Kretinga and $306 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 Kretinga or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Kretinga â 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 Kretinga or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Kretinga at $1,303. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kretinga it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kretinga or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,303 in Kretinga. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kretinga 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kretinga or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kretinga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.