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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,560 per month in Szczecinek vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,253 per month in Szczecinek vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,945 per month in Szczecinek vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Szczecinek costs about 67% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Szczecinek sits 14% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.89 zł 45.23
$2.08 ฿69.5
471.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.68 zł 174
$19.61 ฿655
132.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.30 zł 35.35
$5.67 ฿189
64.02%
Cappuccino
$3.63 zł 13.80
$1.81 ฿60.3
100.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 zł 4.53
$0.77 ฿25.65
54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 zł 3.53
$0.35 ฿11.53
165.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 zł 12.20
$2.21 ฿73.9
45.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 zł 5.62
$3.79 ฿127
-60.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 zł 3.53
$2.05 ฿68.4
-54.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 zł 4.77
$1.51 ฿50.6
-17.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 zł 5.39
$1.40 ฿46.69
1.43%
Eggs
$3.77 zł 14.35
$2.26 ฿75.4
66.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.78 zł 29.60
$16.19 ฿540
-51.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 zł 23.52
$2.90 ฿96.7
113.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 zł 51.9
$9.42 ฿314
44.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 zł 4.66
$2.68 ฿89.4
-54.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 zł 4.49
$1.09 ฿36.37
8.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.61
$1.62 ฿54.0
7.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 zł 9.80
$1.46 ฿48.74
76.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 zł 2.87
$1.28 ฿42.65
-41.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 zł 3.20
$1.06 ฿35.31
-20.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 zł 5.10
$0.72 ฿23.94
86.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 zł 2.78
$0.53 ฿17.56
37.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.00 zł 22.82
$4.23 ฿141
41.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.94 zł 30.20
$18.29 ฿611
-56.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 zł 4.65
$1.63 ฿54.4
-25.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 zł 5.63
$2.90 ฿96.8
-48.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 zł 4.84
$0.88 ฿29.32
44.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.80 zł 129
$53.8 ฿1,795
-37.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 zł 9.26
$1.17 ฿39.14
108.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 zł 3.97
$0.58 ฿19.30
81.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.06 zł 45.87
$2.39 ฿79.6
404.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 zł 5.75
$1.45 ฿48.41
4.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K zł 120.2K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
50.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K zł 107.0K
$26.4K ฿882.0K
6.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$300 zł 1,142
$63.7 ฿2,125
371.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30 zł 31.58
$12.89 ฿430
-35.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.19 zł 73.0
$20.52 ฿685
-6.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.95 zł 148
$39.02 ฿1,302
-0.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.34 zł 92.6
$3.92 ฿131
520.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 zł 29.99
$6.58 ฿220
19.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$213 zł 810
$784 ฿26.2K
-72.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,927 zł 30.1K
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-45.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1 zł 323
$55.1 ฿1,840
54.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.58 zł 147
$24.74 ฿826
55.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 zł 338
$94.1 ฿3,142
-5.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 zł 435
$74.0 ฿2,469
54.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$587 zł 2,231
$490 ฿16.4K
19.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$549 zł 2,089
$288 ฿9,620
90.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 zł 4,022
$891 ฿29.8K
18.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$911 zł 3,464
$521 ฿17.4K
74.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,648 zł 10.1K
$1,974 ฿65.9K
34.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,352 zł 8,945
$1,444 ฿48.2K
62.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,331 zł 5,063
$602 ฿20.1K
121.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.2
5.57
-24.60%

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

Last update for Szczecinek: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $587 in Szczecinek versus $490 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 121% higher in Szczecinek, 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 $46.00 in Szczecinek versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $214 in Szczecinek vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Szczecinek 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
Szczecinek vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Szczecinek or Chiang Mai?
Szczecinek costs about 67% 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 Szczecinek and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,340 per month in Szczecinek and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $213 per month in Szczecinek and $784 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 Szczecinek or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Szczecinek – 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 Szczecinek or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Szczecinek at $1,560. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szczecinek it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Szczecinek or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,560 in Szczecinek. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Szczecinek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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