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