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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,142 per month in Szombathely vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Szombathely vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,117 per month in Szombathely vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Szombathely costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Szombathely and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Szombathely 15% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60 Ft 2,733
$1.96 ฿65.9
338.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.64 Ft 13.9K
$18.35 ฿617
137.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.27 Ft 2,627
$7.48 ฿252
10.56%
Cappuccino
$2.10 Ft 666
$2.02 ฿67.8
3.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 Ft 346
$0.85 ฿28.52
28.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 Ft 292
$0.36 ฿11.97
155.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 Ft 508
$2.14 ฿71.9
-25.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 Ft 690
$3.59 ฿121
-39.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 Ft 350
$1.65 ฿55.5
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 Ft 478
$1.57 ฿52.7
-4.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 581
$1.19 ฿40.05
53.78%
Eggs
$2.50 Ft 796
$1.94 ฿65.1
28.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 Ft 2,892
$16.19 ฿545
-43.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.03 Ft 1,916
$2.99 ฿101
101.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.44 Ft 4,590
$10.94 ฿368
31.99%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 Ft 624
$2.71 ฿91.2
-27.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 Ft 588
$1.17 ฿39.27
58.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 Ft 676
$1.69 ฿56.8
26.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.86 Ft 910
$1.60 ฿54.0
78.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 Ft 375
$1.38 ฿46.56
-14.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 Ft 412
$1.20 ฿40.47
8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 Ft 567
$0.67 ฿22.51
165.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 Ft 183
$0.56 ฿18.74
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 Ft 2,263
$4.64 ฿156
53.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.83 Ft 1,534
$17.62 ฿593
-72.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 Ft 372
$1.86 ฿62.6
-37.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 Ft 492
$3.30 ฿111
-53.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 Ft 264
$0.88 ฿29.70
-5.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.93 Ft 5,698
$19.34 ฿651
-7.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 Ft 846
$1.36 ฿45.92
95.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 Ft 366
$1.34 ฿45.00
-14.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.21 Ft 7,059
$8.21 ฿276
170.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.68 Ft 533
$1.22 ฿41.20
37.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Ft 8.7M
$21.4K ฿718.5K
28.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K Ft 8.3M
$22.5K ฿758.1K
16.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 Ft 52.3K
$70.7 ฿2,378
132.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.78 Ft 8,827
$14.04 ฿472
97.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.85 Ft 6,308
$17.49 ฿589
13.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.59 Ft 14.5K
$42.15 ฿1,418
8.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 Ft 5,420
$6.88 ฿231
147.97%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21 Ft 1,338
$5.92 ฿199
-28.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$397 Ft 126.2K
$309 ฿10.4K
28.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,179 Ft 2.3M
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-51.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 Ft 29.6K
$55.8 ฿1,876
67.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.69 Ft 14.2K
$26.11 ฿879
71.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.2 Ft 29.6K
$83.0 ฿2,793
12.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 Ft 31.9K
$70.5 ฿2,371
42.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 Ft 136.5K
$432 ฿14.5K
-0.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 Ft 101.4K
$239 ฿8,040
33.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$436 Ft 138.5K
$822 ฿27.7K
-46.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$345 Ft 109.5K
$512 ฿17.2K
-32.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,531 Ft 804.2K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
32.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,096 Ft 666.0K
$1,467 ฿49.4K
42.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,203 Ft 382.2K
$579 ฿19.5K
107.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
5
50.00%

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

Last update for Szombathely: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Szombathely 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 108% higher in Szombathely, 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 $44.00 in Szombathely versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Szombathely vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Szombathely 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
Szombathely vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Szombathely or Chiang Mai?
Szombathely costs about 33% 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 Szombathely and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,713 per month in Szombathely 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, Szombathely 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 Szombathely and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $397 per month in Szombathely 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 Szombathely or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Szombathely – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Szombathely or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,142 in Szombathely and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Szombathely or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,142 in Szombathely. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Szombathely 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 Szombathely or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Szombathely makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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