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 $1,521 per month in Lodz vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,245 per month in Lodz vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,969 per month in Lodz vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lodz costs about 76% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lodz sits 13% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.06 zł 40.32
$1.94 ฿63.5
470.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.39 zł 176
$18.64 ฿609
159.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.25 zł 30.09
$7.82 ฿255
5.50%
Cappuccino
$3.62 zł 13.19
$1.95 ฿63.8
85.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 zł 6.92
$0.85 ฿27.77
123.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 zł 5.89
$0.35 ฿11.58
362.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.27 zł 11.92
$2.13 ฿69.6
53.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 zł 14.65
$3.73 ฿122
7.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 zł 3.97
$1.71 ฿56.0
-36.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 zł 4.45
$1.63 ฿53.2
-25.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 zł 4.28
$1.14 ฿37.15
2.63%
Eggs
$3.06 zł 11.15
$1.93 ฿63.1
58.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.63 zł 31.47
$16.21 ฿530
-46.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 zł 24.56
$3.12 ฿102
116.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.92 zł 39.81
$10.90 ฿356
0.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 zł 4.43
$2.75 ฿90.0
-56.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 zł 6.49
$1.21 ฿39.52
47.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 zł 7.04
$1.62 ฿53.0
19.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.81 zł 10.26
$1.59 ฿51.8
76.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 zł 3.30
$1.40 ฿45.70
-35.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 zł 4.35
$1.17 ฿38.17
1.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 zł 4.17
$0.66 ฿21.60
72.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 zł 2.04
$0.53 ฿17.22
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10 zł 18.61
$4.69 ฿153
8.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.20 zł 26.24
$18.66 ฿609
-61.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 zł 4.37
$1.80 ฿58.8
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 zł 6.89
$3.23 ฿106
-41.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 zł 4.38
$0.90 ฿29.26
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.48 zł 169
$19.21 ฿628
141.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 zł 7.86
$1.41 ฿45.91
53.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 zł 1.79
$1.29 ฿42.12
-62.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.69 zł 35.33
$7.84 ฿256
23.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.68 zł 6.14
$1.27 ฿41.58
32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K zł 124.9K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
61.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K zł 105.9K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
30.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$332 zł 1,209
$69.1 ฿2,256
380.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.53 zł 31.10
$14.08 ฿460
-39.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.64 zł 60.7
$18.00 ฿588
-7.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.71 zł 156
$41.06 ฿1,341
4.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.66 zł 93.5
$6.96 ฿227
268.68%
Cinema Ticket
$8.35 zł 30.42
$5.92 ฿193
41.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$332 zł 1,211
$299 ฿9,766
11.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,335 zł 34.0K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-37.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7 zł 334
$54.7 ฿1,787
67.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.73 zł 112
$26.77 ฿874
14.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 zł 275
$85.0 ฿2,776
-11.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 zł 349
$70.6 ฿2,306
35.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 zł 2,282
$428 ฿14.0K
46.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 zł 1,760
$237 ฿7,752
103.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 zł 4,023
$801 ฿26.2K
37.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$878 zł 3,200
$515 ฿16.8K
70.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,246 zł 11.8K
$1,975 ฿64.5K
64.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,565 zł 9,351
$1,475 ฿48.2K
73.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lodz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,676 zł 6,110
$617 ฿20.2K
171.47%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Lodz 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 171% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Lodz vs $246 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 76% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,281 per month in Lodz 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, 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $332 per month in Lodz 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 Lodz or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Lodz at $1,521. 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 $866 versus $1,521 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 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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