😐A single person spends $1,542 per month in Lodz vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Lodz vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,969 per month in Lodz vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Lodz costs about 62% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lodz sits 12% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.27zł 38.06
$2.10฿69.0
389.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.92zł 185
$19.84฿653
151.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69zł 35.90
$5.79฿191
67.36%
Cappuccino
$3.75zł 13.91
$1.83฿60.2
104.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77zł 10.26
$0.78฿25.51
255.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86zł 10.60
$0.31฿10.33
822.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.94zł 18.32
$2.34฿76.9
111.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31zł 19.68
$3.70฿122
43.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07zł 3.97
$2.03฿66.8
-47.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18zł 4.38
$1.60฿52.5
-26.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47zł 5.45
$1.42฿46.57
3.52%
Eggs
$3.64zł 13.47
$2.18฿71.6
66.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.04zł 40.90
$15.91฿523
-30.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.25zł 26.85
$3.07฿101
136.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.37zł 45.84
$9.87฿325
25.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26zł 4.66
$2.63฿86.4
-52.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70zł 6.29
$1.10฿36.05
54.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.52zł 9.34
$1.63฿53.6
54.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06zł 11.35
$1.53฿50.4
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84zł 3.12
$1.24฿40.97
-32.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93zł 3.45
$1.13฿37.22
-17.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42zł 5.26
$0.74฿24.29
91.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62zł 2.32
$0.50฿16.42
24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90zł 21.85
$4.28฿141
37.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.14zł 26.47
$17.97฿591
-60.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17zł 4.33
$1.70฿55.9
-31.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87zł 6.94
$2.90฿95.3
-35.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16zł 4.30
$0.94฿31.00
23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.0zł 200
$55.3฿1,820
-2.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68zł 6.24
$1.23฿40.60
36.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61zł 2.25
$0.53฿17.59
15.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.45zł 35.02
$2.40฿79.0
293.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57zł 5.83
$1.44฿47.37
9.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8Kzł 117.7K
$21.2K฿697.5K
49.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9Kzł 103.3K
$27.3K฿898.6K
2.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$327zł 1,213
$64.9฿2,137
404.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.03zł 33.46
$13.35฿439
-32.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.04zł 66.9
$20.83฿686
-13.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.77zł 144
$40.42฿1,330
-4.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68zł 69.2
$3.95฿130
372.91%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20zł 30.39
$6.71฿221
22.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$532zł 1,970
$787฿25.9K
-32.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1Kzł 41.1K
$15.1K฿497.7K
-26.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7zł 292
$56.2฿1,850
39.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.75zł 155
$24.95฿821
67.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3zł 346
$92.7฿3,051
0.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103zł 381
$75.1฿2,472
36.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$633zł 2,347
$484฿15.9K
30.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494zł 1,829
$287฿9,454
71.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,127zł 4,178
$910฿29.9K
23.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$875zł 3,244
$531฿17.5K
64.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,356zł 12.4K
$1,980฿65.2K
69.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,502zł 9,271
$1,451฿47.8K
72.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,695zł 6,279
$605฿19.9K
179.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.87
5.57
23.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lodz: September 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $633 in Lodz versus $484 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 180% 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 $50.0 in Lodz versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Lodz vs $242 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 62% 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 $2,313 per month in Lodz and $1,426 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 $532 per month in Lodz and $787 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 4% 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 $950, than in Lodz at $1,542. 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 $950 versus $1,542 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.