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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,495 per month in Lodz vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,201 per month in Lodz vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,907 per month in Lodz vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lodz costs about 74% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lodz sits 12% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 zł 41.69
$1.96 ฿65.9
460.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.34 zł 184
$18.35 ฿617
163.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.36 zł 31.74
$7.48 ฿252
11.76%
Cappuccino
$3.62 zł 13.76
$2.02 ฿67.8
79.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 zł 6.95
$0.85 ฿28.52
115.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 zł 6.46
$0.36 ฿11.97
372.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 zł 12.62
$2.14 ฿71.9
55.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 zł 15.13
$3.59 ฿121
10.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 zł 3.91
$1.65 ฿55.5
-37.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 zł 4.72
$1.57 ฿52.7
-21.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 zł 4.45
$1.19 ฿40.05
-1.68%
Eggs
$3.04 zł 11.53
$1.94 ฿65.1
56.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.75 zł 33.22
$16.19 ฿545
-45.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 zł 25.66
$2.99 ฿101
126.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.92 zł 41.48
$10.94 ฿368
-0.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 zł 4.37
$2.71 ฿91.2
-57.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 zł 6.76
$1.17 ฿39.27
52.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 zł 7.63
$1.69 ฿56.8
18.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 zł 10.83
$1.60 ฿54.0
78.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 zł 3.47
$1.38 ฿46.56
-34.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 zł 4.52
$1.20 ฿40.47
-0.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 zł 4.57
$0.67 ฿22.51
79.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 zł 2.25
$0.56 ฿18.74
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03 zł 19.09
$4.64 ฿156
8.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.93 zł 26.31
$17.62 ฿593
-60.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 zł 4.59
$1.86 ฿62.6
-34.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 zł 7.43
$3.30 ฿111
-40.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 zł 4.47
$0.88 ฿29.70
34.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.31 zł 176
$19.34 ฿651
139.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.22 zł 8.44
$1.36 ฿45.92
63.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 zł 1.94
$1.34 ฿45.00
-61.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.53 zł 36.19
$8.21 ฿276
16.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 zł 6.49
$1.22 ฿41.20
40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K zł 125.9K
$21.4K ฿718.5K
55.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K zł 110.2K
$22.5K ฿758.1K
28.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$335 zł 1,271
$70.7 ฿2,378
373.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.44 zł 32.05
$14.04 ฿472
-39.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.08 zł 64.9
$17.49 ฿589
-2.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.89 zł 163
$42.15 ฿1,418
1.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.01 zł 98.8
$6.88 ฿231
278.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.07 zł 30.66
$5.92 ฿199
36.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$341 zł 1,294
$309 ฿10.4K
10.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,485 zł 36.0K
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-36.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.4 zł 355
$55.8 ฿1,876
67.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.84 zł 117
$26.11 ฿879
18.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 zł 293
$83.0 ฿2,793
-7.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1 zł 354
$70.5 ฿2,371
32.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 zł 2,367
$432 ฿14.5K
44.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 zł 1,832
$239 ฿8,040
101.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 zł 4,296
$822 ฿27.7K
37.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$889 zł 3,375
$512 ฿17.2K
73.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,199 zł 12.2K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
67.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,451 zł 9,308
$1,467 ฿49.4K
67.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,637 zł 6,219
$579 ฿19.5K
182.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.78
5
35.60%

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

Last update for Lodz: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $623 in Lodz versus $432 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 183% higher in Lodz, 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 $48.00 in Lodz versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Lodz vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Lodz 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
Lodz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lodz or Chiang Mai?
Lodz costs about 74% 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 Lodz and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,243 per month in Lodz and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lodz 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 Lodz and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $341 per month in Lodz and $309 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 Lodz or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Lodz – 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 Lodz or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Lodz at $1,495. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lodz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lodz or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,495 in Lodz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lodz 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 Lodz or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lodz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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