ðA single person spends $1,545 per month in Petrinja vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,401 per month in Petrinja vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,256 per month in Petrinja vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðPetrinja costs about 83% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPetrinja sits 15% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.42âŽ14.00
$1.95āļŋ62.8
742.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1âŽ68.3
$18.43āļŋ594
334.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28âŽ7.06
$7.50āļŋ241
10.40%
Cappuccino
$3.39âŽ2.90
$1.93āļŋ62.3
75.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73âŽ3.18
$0.78āļŋ25.08
378.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58âŽ2.20
$0.32āļŋ10.42
706.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51âŽ3.85
$2.15āļŋ69.2
109.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84âŽ3.28
$3.71āļŋ120
3.50%
ð Groceries & Markets
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14âŽ0.97
$1.71āļŋ55.2
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37âŽ1.17
$1.56āļŋ50.3
-12.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03âŽ2.58
$1.18āļŋ38.06
156.78%
Eggs
$4.96âŽ4.23
$1.98āļŋ63.9
150.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.16âŽ15.49
$16.04āļŋ517
13.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54âŽ9.85
$3.17āļŋ102
264.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.41âŽ9.73
$10.94āļŋ353
4.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.65âŽ1.41
$2.63āļŋ84.7
-37.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55âŽ1.32
$1.17āļŋ37.61
32.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18âŽ1.86
$1.65āļŋ53.0
32.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.48âŽ2.11
$1.54āļŋ49.51
61.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49âŽ1.27
$1.38āļŋ44.34
7.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41âŽ1.20
$1.17āļŋ37.54
20.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89âŽ0.76
$0.66āļŋ21.25
34.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13âŽ0.97
$0.51āļŋ16.55
121.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34âŽ4.55
$4.52āļŋ146
18.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09âŽ6.05
$18.32āļŋ590
-61.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34âŽ1.14
$1.80āļŋ57.9
-25.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38âŽ1.17
$3.18āļŋ102
-56.60%
ð Getting Around
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78âŽ1.52
$0.90āļŋ28.97
97.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.68âŽ36.40
$19.00āļŋ612
124.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03âŽ2.59
$1.41āļŋ45.50
114.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07âŽ0.91
$1.31āļŋ42.15
-18.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.72âŽ7.44
$8.09āļŋ261
7.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70âŽ1.45
$1.28āļŋ41.08
32.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6KâŽ32.9K
$21.3Kāļŋ686.1K
81.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KâŽ22.5K
$21.7Kāļŋ699.3K
21.57%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186âŽ159
$69.2āļŋ2,230
168.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.28âŽ19.85
$13.97āļŋ450
66.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.58âŽ25.23
$17.95āļŋ578
64.79%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.3âŽ43.77
$42.31āļŋ1,363
21.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48âŽ12.35
$6.66āļŋ214
117.42%
Cinema Ticket
$8.24âŽ7.02
$5.92āļŋ191
39.19%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$244âŽ208
$299āļŋ9,640
-18.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,370âŽ1,169
$14.8Kāļŋ478.4K
-90.77%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106âŽ90.6
$56.2āļŋ1,810
88.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.86âŽ39.97
$26.94āļŋ868
73.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138âŽ118
$84.9āļŋ2,735
62.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103âŽ88.2
$71.8āļŋ2,314
43.91%
ð Accommodation & Living
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$660âŽ563
$435āļŋ14.0K
51.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464âŽ396
$240āļŋ7,727
93.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,041âŽ888
$798āļŋ25.7K
30.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$778âŽ664
$498āļŋ16.1K
56.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,096âŽ3,494
$1,995āļŋ64.3K
105.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,899âŽ2,473
$1,532āļŋ49.4K
89.28%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Petrinja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628āļŋ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
5
-6.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Petrinja: April 22, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Petrinja versus $435 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.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $80 in Petrinja versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $244 â making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Petrinja vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Petrinja or Chiang Mai?
Petrinja costs about 83% 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 Petrinja vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,318 per month in Petrinja and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Petrinja 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 Petrinja and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $244 per month in Petrinja 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 Petrinja or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Petrinja, 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 $1,000/month in Petrinja or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Petrinja at $1,545. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Petrinja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Petrinja or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,545 in Petrinja. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Petrinja 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Petrinja or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Petrinja makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.