Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pecs and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,372 in Pecs, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pecs, Hungary
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pecs
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,372
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pecs and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pecs and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,372 per month in Pecs vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pecs $1,372
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $2,140 per month in Pecs vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pecs $2,140
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,907 per month in Pecs vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pecs $2,907
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Pecs costs about 47% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.24 Ft 3,704
$2.24 ฿75.7
401.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.8 Ft 20.3K
$19.00 ฿642
225.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.94 Ft 2,946
$5.55 ฿188
61.08%
Cappuccino
$2.48 Ft 818
$1.67 ฿56.6
48.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 Ft 425
$0.64 ฿21.56
101.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 Ft 422
$0.31 ฿10.32
312.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 Ft 569
$2.36 ฿79.6
-26.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 Ft 744
$3.66 ฿124
-38.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Ft 389
$1.95 ฿65.8
-39.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 Ft 536
$1.44 ฿48.51
13.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 Ft 784
$1.33 ฿45.07
78.95%
Eggs
$3.21 Ft 1,057
$2.28 ฿77.1
40.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 Ft 3,320
$16.45 ฿556
-38.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 Ft 2,233
$2.78 ฿94.0
143.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.27 Ft 5,358
$9.31 ฿314
74.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 Ft 773
$2.35 ฿79.5
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 Ft 731
$0.97 ฿32.82
128.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 Ft 832
$1.60 ฿53.9
58.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 Ft 1,314
$1.50 ฿50.7
166.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 Ft 357
$1.28 ฿43.15
-15.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 Ft 457
$1.10 ฿37.22
26.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 Ft 614
$0.71 ฿23.84
163.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 Ft 192
$0.49 ฿16.38
18.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.97 Ft 2,954
$4.14 ฿140
116.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.60 Ft 1,516
$17.52 ฿592
-73.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 Ft 448
$1.61 ฿54.5
-15.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 Ft 859
$2.78 ฿94.0
-6.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 Ft 512
$0.87 ฿29.33
78.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.23 Ft 7,652
$54.1 ฿1,827
-57.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 Ft 1,087
$1.16 ฿39.08
184.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 Ft 473
$0.53 ฿17.82
171.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.43 Ft 8,048
$2.42 ฿81.8
909.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 Ft 587
$1.45 ฿48.93
22.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Ft 9.1M
$21.1K ฿711.2K
30.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K Ft 11.8M
$26.9K ฿909.8K
33.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 Ft 55.2K
$62.2 ฿2,100
169.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.86 Ft 6,870
$12.17 ฿411
71.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.93 Ft 6,894
$20.12 ฿680
4.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.4 Ft 16.6K
$37.31 ฿1,260
35.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.59 Ft 6,123
$3.77 ฿127
393.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 Ft 2,825
$6.49 ฿219
32.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$420 Ft 138.3K
$736 ฿24.9K
-42.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,652 Ft 2.5M
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-48.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.3 Ft 32.7K
$53.4 ฿1,802
86.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0 Ft 16.8K
$24.64 ฿832
107.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 Ft 31.9K
$91.5 ฿3,089
5.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 Ft 36.1K
$71.9 ฿2,429
52.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$635 Ft 209.1K
$482 ฿16.3K
31.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$464 Ft 153.0K
$309 ฿10.4K
50.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,133 Ft 373.3K
$1,006 ฿34.0K
12.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$812 Ft 267.5K
$633 ฿21.4K
28.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,152 Ft 1.0M
$2,363 ฿79.8K
33.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,595 Ft 854.8K
$1,589 ฿53.7K
63.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pecs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,079 Ft 355.4K
$590 ฿19.9K
82.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5.57
43.63%

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

Last update for Pecs: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pecs
$464
Chiang Mai
$309 33.5% $156
Groceries & Markets
Pecs
$260
Chiang Mai
$234 9.9% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
$210
Chiang Mai
$94 54.9% $115
Eating Out
Pecs
$170
Chiang Mai
$78 54.4% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
$161
Chiang Mai
$109 32.4% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
$68
Chiang Mai
$50 25.5% $17
Getting Around
Pecs
$40
Chiang Mai
$61 53.7% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $635 in Pecs versus $482 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 83% higher in Pecs. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Pecs versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Pecs
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
11:19 11:19 AM
17:19 5:19 PM
6 h ahead of Pecs
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
140,330
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 329 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.04 USD). 1 EUR = 367 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.73 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pecs Chiang Mai 7,810 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pecs
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pecs vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pecs or Chiang Mai?
Pecs costs about 47% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Pecs and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,058 per month in Pecs and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pecs or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $635 in Pecs.
How do childcare costs compare in Pecs and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $420 per month in Pecs and $736 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 Pecs or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Pecs, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Pecs or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,372 in Pecs and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Pecs or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,372 in Pecs. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Pecs 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 Pecs or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pecs makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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