Cost of Living Comparison Between Szczecin and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Szczecin and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,405 per month in Szczecin vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Szczecin vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,657 per month in Szczecin vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Szczecin costs about 63% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Szczecin sits 5% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.39 zł 35.60
$1.96 ฿65.7
379.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.78 zł 185
$18.35 ฿616
165.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.52 zł 32.29
$7.48 ฿251
13.90%
Cappuccino
$3.35 zł 12.69
$2.02 ฿67.7
65.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 zł 7.00
$0.85 ฿28.45
117.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 zł 5.37
$0.36 ฿11.94
294.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.29 zł 12.46
$2.14 ฿71.7
53.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 zł 12.09
$3.59 ฿121
-11.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 zł 3.65
$1.65 ฿55.4
-41.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 zł 5.04
$1.57 ฿52.6
-15.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 zł 3.77
$1.19 ฿39.95
-16.81%
Eggs
$3.28 zł 12.44
$1.94 ฿65.0
69.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 zł 35.69
$16.19 ฿544
-41.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.36 zł 24.10
$2.99 ฿100
112.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.98 zł 49.18
$10.94 ฿367
18.65%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 zł 3.38
$2.71 ฿91.0
-67.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.77
$1.17 ฿39.18
52.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 zł 5.26
$1.69 ฿56.6
-17.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 zł 8.15
$1.60 ฿53.9
34.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 zł 3.39
$1.38 ฿46.45
-35.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 zł 4.08
$1.20 ฿40.38
-10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 zł 3.87
$0.67 ฿22.46
52.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 zł 2.14
$0.56 ฿18.70
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.40 zł 20.45
$4.64 ฿156
16.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.41 zł 24.30
$17.62 ฿591
-63.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 zł 4.13
$1.86 ฿62.4
-41.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 zł 5.46
$3.30 ฿111
-56.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 zł 3.01
$0.88 ฿29.63
-10.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.49 zł 104
$19.34 ฿649
42.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 zł 8.13
$1.36 ฿45.82
58.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 zł 3.83
$1.34 ฿44.90
-24.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.67 zł 51.8
$8.21 ฿276
66.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 zł 6.63
$1.22 ฿41.11
43.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K zł 126.7K
$21.4K ฿716.8K
56.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K zł 116.9K
$22.5K ฿756.3K
36.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$257 zł 974
$70.7 ฿2,372
263.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70 zł 40.56
$14.04 ฿471
-23.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65 zł 66.9
$17.49 ฿587
0.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.13 zł 114
$42.15 ฿1,415
-28.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 zł 62.7
$6.88 ฿231
140.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85 zł 25.95
$5.92 ฿199
15.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$376 zł 1,424
$309 ฿10.4K
21.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,122 zł 30.8K
$14.9K ฿499.5K
-45.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 zł 216
$55.8 ฿1,872
2.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91 zł 117
$26.11 ฿877
18.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 zł 281
$83.0 ฿2,787
-10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2 zł 319
$70.5 ฿2,365
19.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$658 zł 2,495
$432 ฿14.5K
52.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 zł 1,999
$239 ฿8,020
120.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$981 zł 3,718
$822 ฿27.6K
19.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$817 zł 3,097
$512 ฿17.2K
59.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,435 zł 13.0K
$1,915 ฿64.3K
79.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,448 zł 9,280
$1,467 ฿49.3K
66.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,622 zł 6,150
$579 ฿19.4K
180.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
5
27.20%

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

Last update for Szczecin: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Szczecin 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 180% higher in Szczecin, 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 $49.00 in Szczecin versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Szczecin vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Szczecin 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
Szczecin vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Szczecin or Chiang Mai?
Szczecin costs about 63% 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 Szczecin and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,107 per month in Szczecin 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, Szczecin 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 Szczecin and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $376 per month in Szczecin 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 Szczecin or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Szczecin – 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 Szczecin or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Szczecin at $1,405. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szczecin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Szczecin or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,405 in Szczecin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Szczecin 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 Szczecin or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Szczecin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Szczecin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities