😐A single person spends $1,408 per month in Szczecin vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,007 per month in Szczecin vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,606 per month in Szczecin vs $1,835 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 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.33zł 34.01
$1.94฿63.5
380.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.78zł 181
$18.64฿609
167.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76zł 31.92
$7.82฿255
12.02%
Cappuccino
$3.33zł 12.12
$1.95฿63.8
70.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86zł 6.79
$0.85฿27.77
118.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41zł 5.15
$0.35฿11.58
302.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.32zł 12.10
$2.13฿69.6
55.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18zł 11.59
$3.73฿122
-14.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.51
$1.71฿56.0
-43.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28zł 4.67
$1.63฿53.2
-21.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99zł 3.59
$1.14฿37.15
-13.16%
Eggs
$3.34zł 12.16
$1.93฿63.1
73.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64zł 35.14
$16.21฿530
-40.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39zł 23.28
$3.12฿102
104.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.30zł 48.48
$10.90฿356
22.02%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.26
$2.75฿90.0
-67.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78zł 6.48
$1.21฿39.52
47.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39zł 5.08
$1.62฿53.0
-14.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18zł 7.96
$1.59฿51.8
37.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.24
$1.40฿45.70
-36.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07zł 3.89
$1.17฿38.17
-8.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03zł 3.76
$0.66฿21.60
56.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60zł 2.19
$0.53฿17.22
13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.32zł 19.40
$4.69฿153
13.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03zł 25.62
$18.66฿609
-62.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14zł 4.14
$1.80฿58.8
-36.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.37
$3.23฿106
-54.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82zł 3.00
$0.90฿29.26
-8.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.10zł 98.8
$19.21฿628
41.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.20zł 8.02
$1.41฿45.91
56.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97zł 3.54
$1.29฿42.12
-24.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.44zł 48.99
$7.84฿256
71.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67zł 6.08
$1.27฿41.58
31.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7Kzł 119.3K
$21.3K฿694.9K
53.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7Kzł 112.0K
$22.2K฿725.4K
38.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$253zł 922
$69.1฿2,256
266.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70zł 38.99
$14.08฿460
-24.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.06zł 62.2
$18.00฿588
-5.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.59zł 108
$41.06฿1,341
-27.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.99zł 58.3
$6.96฿227
129.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91zł 25.18
$5.92฿193
16.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$379zł 1,383
$299฿9,766
26.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,219zł 30.0K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-45.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4zł 205
$54.7฿1,787
3.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67zł 112
$26.77฿874
14.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4zł 264
$85.0฿2,776
-14.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1zł 310
$70.6฿2,306
20.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$657zł 2,394
$428฿14.0K
53.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534zł 1,946
$237฿7,752
124.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963zł 3,512
$801฿26.2K
20.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$811zł 2,955
$515฿16.8K
57.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,413zł 12.4K
$1,975฿64.5K
72.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,566zł 9,354
$1,475฿48.2K
73.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,660zł 6,051
$617฿20.2K
168.83%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Szczecin versus $428 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 169% 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 $50.0 in Szczecin versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Szczecin vs $246 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,113 per month in Szczecin and $1,300 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $379 per month in Szczecin 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 Szczecin or 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Szczecin at $1,408. 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 $866 versus $1,408 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 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.