😐A single person spends $1,365 per month in Nowy Sacz vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,059 per month in Nowy Sacz vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,754 per month in Nowy Sacz vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Nowy Sacz costs about 58% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Nowy Sacz sits 2% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35zł 35.52
$1.96฿65.9
377.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.30zł 153
$18.35฿617
119.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.24zł 31.29
$7.48฿252
10.16%
Cappuccino
$3.18zł 12.06
$2.02฿67.8
57.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18zł 8.27
$0.85฿28.52
156.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70zł 6.48
$0.36฿11.97
372.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95zł 11.19
$2.14฿71.9
37.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58zł 13.59
$3.59฿121
-0.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05zł 3.98
$1.65฿55.5
-36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30zł 4.92
$1.57฿52.7
-17.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59zł 6.03
$1.19฿40.05
33.61%
Eggs
$3.38zł 12.84
$1.94฿65.1
74.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62zł 28.93
$16.19฿545
-52.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.23zł 23.65
$2.99฿101
108.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.92zł 37.68
$10.94฿368
-9.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15zł 4.37
$2.71฿91.2
-57.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55zł 5.90
$1.17฿39.27
32.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58zł 5.99
$1.69฿56.8
-6.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.60zł 9.89
$1.60฿54.0
62.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97zł 3.69
$1.38฿46.56
-29.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25zł 4.74
$1.20฿40.47
4.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37zł 5.19
$0.67฿22.51
104.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65zł 2.45
$0.56฿18.74
16.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44zł 20.67
$4.64฿156
17.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.74zł 25.61
$17.62฿593
-61.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01zł 3.85
$1.86฿62.6
-45.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82zł 6.92
$3.30฿111
-44.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 4.04
$0.88฿29.70
20.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.91zł 125
$19.34฿651
70.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23zł 8.47
$1.36฿45.92
63.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77zł 2.91
$1.34฿45.00
-42.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.64zł 40.40
$8.21฿276
29.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75zł 6.64
$1.22฿41.20
43.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1Kzł 129.4K
$21.4K฿718.5K
59.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6Kzł 116.2K
$22.5K฿758.1K
35.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$291zł 1,105
$70.7฿2,378
311.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.67zł 29.15
$14.04฿472
-45.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54zł 51.4
$17.49฿589
-22.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.05zł 141
$42.15฿1,418
-12.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.84zł 75.4
$6.88฿231
188.37%
Cinema Ticket
$8.56zł 32.52
$5.92฿199
44.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266zł 1,009
$309฿10.4K
-13.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,272zł 8,628
$14.9K฿500.7K
-84.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.1zł 236
$55.8฿1,876
11.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.65zł 147
$26.11฿879
48.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.6zł 222
$83.0฿2,793
-29.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5zł 287
$70.5฿2,371
7.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$556zł 2,111
$432฿14.5K
28.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$460zł 1,746
$239฿8,040
92.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,106zł 4,202
$822฿27.7K
34.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$967zł 3,672
$512฿17.2K
88.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,958zł 7,437
$1,915฿64.4K
2.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,172zł 4,452
$1,467฿49.4K
-20.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nowy Sacz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$958zł 3,640
$579฿19.5K
65.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.28
5
25.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nowy Sacz: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $556 in Nowy Sacz 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 65% higher in Nowy Sacz, 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 $40.00 in Nowy Sacz versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Nowy Sacz vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Nowy Sacz 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
Nowy Sacz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nowy Sacz or Chiang Mai?
Nowy Sacz costs about 58% 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 Nowy Sacz and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,047 per month in Nowy Sacz 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, Nowy Sacz 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 Nowy Sacz and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Nowy Sacz 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 Nowy Sacz or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Nowy Sacz – 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 Nowy Sacz or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Nowy Sacz at $1,365. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nowy Sacz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nowy Sacz or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,365 in Nowy Sacz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nowy Sacz 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 Nowy Sacz or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nowy Sacz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.