🙂A single person spends $503 per month in Podujevo vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $789 per month in Podujevo vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,076 per month in Podujevo vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Podujevo is about 41% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Podujevo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Podujevo62% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.68€4.95
$2.04฿68.4
178.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.70€21.54
$18.71฿626
32.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.42€5.60
$7.86฿263
-18.32%
Cappuccino
$1.47€1.29
$2.03฿67.9
-27.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.13
$0.80฿26.71
62.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.86
$0.35฿11.71
182.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28€1.98
$2.14฿71.7
6.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66€2.32
$3.67฿123
-27.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.12
$1.73฿57.8
-26.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57€0.49
$1.57฿52.5
-63.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43€1.25
$1.20฿40.10
19.17%
Eggs
$1.53€1.33
$1.97฿66.0
-22.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.22€5.42
$16.23฿543
-61.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14€4.48
$3.06฿102
67.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.42€9.08
$10.80฿361
-3.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24€1.08
$2.77฿92.6
-55.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62€1.42
$1.17฿39.05
38.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39€1.21
$1.71฿57.1
-18.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23€1.07
$1.59฿53.3
-22.64%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84€0.73
$1.39฿46.63
-39.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76€0.67
$1.16฿38.67
-34.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69€0.60
$0.66฿22.11
4.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52€0.45
$0.52฿17.35
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94€2.57
$4.65฿155
-36.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.98
$17.78฿595
-67.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$1.79฿59.8
-49.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$3.34฿112
-58.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.91฿30.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿624
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.76€1.54
$1.41฿47.17
24.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53€0.46
$1.34฿44.82
-60.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66€4.94
$8.11฿271
-30.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46€1.27
$1.23฿41.27
18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K€19.8K
$21.4K฿717.0K
5.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K€22.3K
$21.8K฿730.0K
17.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.4€76.2
$71.3฿2,386
22.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.46€8.25
$14.01฿469
-32.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.38€16.90
$17.93฿600
8.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.82฿1,365
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.68€4.08
$5.72฿191
-18.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173€150
$308฿10.3K
-44.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,914€2,540
$14.7K฿491.0K
-80.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.01€34.01
$55.8฿1,865
-30.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.26€27.25
$26.04฿871
20.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.9€48.70
$84.8฿2,837
-34.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4€72.7
$71.0฿2,375
17.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$423฿14.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$242฿8,110
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$797฿26.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$507฿17.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Podujevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Podujevo: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Podujevo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $165 in Podujevo vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Podujevo 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
Podujevo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Podujevo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 70% more than Podujevo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Podujevo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $754 per month in Podujevo and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Podujevo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Podujevo and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Podujevo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Chiang Mai, 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 Podujevo or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $503 in Podujevo and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Podujevo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Podujevo costs $503 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Podujevo 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 Podujevo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Podujevo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.