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 $1,539 per month in Szczecinek vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,179 per month in Szczecinek vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,820 per month in Szczecinek vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Szczecinek costs about 78% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Szczecinek sits 15% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.66 zł 38.85
$1.94 ฿63.5
449.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.71 zł 90.1
$18.64 ฿609
32.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.21 zł 33.58
$7.82 ฿255
17.77%
Cappuccino
$3.69 zł 13.44
$1.95 ฿63.8
89.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 zł 3.80
$0.85 ฿27.77
22.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 zł 2.54
$0.35 ฿11.58
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.19 zł 15.28
$2.13 ฿69.6
96.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 zł 5.60
$3.73 ฿122
-58.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 zł 4.04
$1.71 ฿56.0
-35.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 zł 3.86
$1.63 ฿53.2
-34.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 zł 5.63
$1.14 ฿37.15
35.96%
Eggs
$3.40 zł 12.41
$1.93 ฿63.1
76.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.33 zł 30.39
$16.21 ฿530
-48.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.51 zł 27.38
$3.12 ฿102
140.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 zł 46.63
$10.90 ฿356
17.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 zł 3.72
$2.75 ฿90.0
-62.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 zł 7.21
$1.21 ฿39.52
63.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 zł 7.09
$1.62 ฿53.0
19.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 zł 11.18
$1.59 ฿51.8
93.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 zł 3.38
$1.40 ฿45.70
-33.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 zł 2.55
$1.17 ฿38.17
-40.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 zł 5.66
$0.66 ฿21.60
134.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 zł 2.53
$0.53 ฿17.22
30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 zł 19.80
$4.69 ฿153
15.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.48 zł 30.93
$18.66 ฿609
-54.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 zł 4.07
$1.80 ฿58.8
-38.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 zł 5.82
$3.23 ฿106
-50.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 zł 4.05
$0.90 ฿29.26
23.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.71 zł 119
$19.21 ฿628
70.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 zł 8.63
$1.41 ฿45.91
68.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 zł 2.82
$1.29 ฿42.12
-40.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.61 zł 49.62
$7.84 ฿256
73.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 zł 6.42
$1.27 ฿41.58
38.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K zł 124.9K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
61.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K zł 109.9K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
35.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$361 zł 1,318
$69.1 ฿2,256
423.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75 zł 42.83
$14.08 ฿460
-16.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.59 zł 56.8
$18.00 ฿588
-13.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.01 zł 135
$41.06 ฿1,341
-9.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41 zł 70.8
$6.96 ฿227
178.88%
Cinema Ticket
$7.54 zł 27.51
$5.92 ฿193
27.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 zł 1,373
$299 ฿9,766
25.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,552 zł 23.9K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-56.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 zł 445
$54.7 ฿1,787
122.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.47 zł 169
$26.77 ฿874
73.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 zł 400
$85.0 ฿2,776
29.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.2 zł 329
$70.6 ฿2,306
27.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 zł 1,843
$428 ฿14.0K
18.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$494 zł 1,803
$237 ฿7,752
108.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$962 zł 3,506
$801 ฿26.2K
19.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$807 zł 2,944
$515 ฿16.8K
56.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,673 zł 9,747
$1,975 ฿64.5K
35.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,552 zł 9,307
$1,475 ฿48.2K
73.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecinek
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,354 zł 4,938
$617 ฿20.2K
119.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.2
5
-16.00%

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

Last update for Szczecinek: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Szczecinek 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 119% 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 $25.00 in Szczecinek versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Szczecinek vs $246 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 78% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,309 per month in Szczecinek 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, 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $377 per month in Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Szczecinek at $1,539. 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 $866 versus $1,539 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 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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