Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Szombathely and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,222 in Szombathely, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Szombathely, Hungary
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Szombathely
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,222
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Szombathely and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Szombathely and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,222 per month in Szombathely vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Szombathely $1,222
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,944 per month in Szombathely vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Szombathely $1,944
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,666 per month in Szombathely vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Szombathely $2,666
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Szombathely costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Szombathely and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Szombathely 10% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43 Ft 3,746
$2.24 ฿75.6
410.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7 Ft 17.6K
$19.00 ฿641
182.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.03 Ft 2,961
$5.55 ฿187
62.70%
Cappuccino
$2.36 Ft 772
$1.67 ฿56.5
41.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 Ft 422
$0.64 ฿21.54
101.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 Ft 399
$0.31 ฿10.31
293.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 Ft 559
$2.36 ฿79.5
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 Ft 735
$3.66 ฿124
-38.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 Ft 390
$1.95 ฿65.7
-38.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 Ft 534
$1.44 ฿48.46
13.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 817
$1.33 ฿45.03
87.22%
Eggs
$3.26 Ft 1,068
$2.28 ฿77.1
42.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.39 Ft 3,405
$16.45 ฿555
-36.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 Ft 2,224
$2.78 ฿93.9
143.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.03 Ft 5,254
$9.31 ฿314
72.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 Ft 729
$2.35 ฿79.4
-5.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 Ft 669
$0.97 ฿32.79
110.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 Ft 783
$1.60 ฿53.9
49.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 Ft 1,122
$1.50 ฿50.6
128.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 Ft 351
$1.28 ฿43.11
-16.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 Ft 456
$1.10 ฿37.18
26.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 Ft 581
$0.71 ฿23.82
149.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Ft 180
$0.49 ฿16.36
12.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.90 Ft 2,916
$4.14 ฿140
114.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.45 Ft 1,457
$17.52 ฿591
-74.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 416
$1.61 ฿54.5
-21.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 Ft 827
$2.78 ฿93.9
-9.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 Ft 271
$0.87 ฿29.30
-4.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.83 Ft 8,795
$54.1 ฿1,825
-50.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 Ft 877
$1.16 ฿39.04
130.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 Ft 436
$0.53 ฿17.80
150.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.51 Ft 7,705
$2.42 ฿81.7
871.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 Ft 594
$1.45 ฿48.88
24.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K Ft 9.0M
$21.1K ฿710.5K
29.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K Ft 10.8M
$26.9K ฿909.0K
22.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 Ft 54.5K
$62.2 ฿2,098
167.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.51 Ft 6,722
$12.17 ฿411
68.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.05 Ft 6,900
$20.12 ฿679
4.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Ft 16.7K
$37.31 ฿1,259
36.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.97 Ft 5,890
$3.77 ฿127
376.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.46 Ft 1,463
$6.49 ฿219
-31.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$433 Ft 141.8K
$736 ฿24.8K
-41.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,571 Ft 2.5M
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-48.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100 Ft 32.9K
$53.4 ฿1,801
88.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 Ft 16.9K
$24.64 ฿831
109.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 Ft 31.5K
$91.5 ฿3,087
4.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 Ft 36.5K
$71.9 ฿2,427
54.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 Ft 170.9K
$482 ฿16.3K
8.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 Ft 107.9K
$309 ฿10.4K
6.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$746 Ft 244.7K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-25.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 Ft 210.7K
$633 ฿21.4K
1.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,419 Ft 792.8K
$2,363 ฿79.7K
2.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,983 Ft 649.9K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
24.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szombathely
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,165 Ft 381.8K
$590 ฿19.9K
97.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
5.57
34.65%

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

Last update for Szombathely: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Szombathely
$329
Chiang Mai
$309 6.2% $20
Groceries & Markets
Szombathely
$254
Chiang Mai
$234 7.9% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szombathely
$208
Chiang Mai
$94 54.6% $113
Eating Out
Szombathely
$170
Chiang Mai
$78 54.3% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Szombathely
$162
Chiang Mai
$109 32.8% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Szombathely
$60
Chiang Mai
$50 16.1% $9.6
Getting Around
Szombathely
$39
Chiang Mai
$61 55.5% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $521 in Szombathely versus $482 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 97% higher in Szombathely. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Szombathely versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Szombathely
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
07:27 7:27 AM
13:27 1:27 PM
6 h ahead of Szombathely
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
77,757
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 328 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.05 USD). 1 EUR = 367 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.72 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.78 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Szombathely Chiang Mai 7,920 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Szombathely
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 31% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,834 per month in Szombathely and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Szombathely compared to Chiang Mai?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $521 in Szombathely and $482 in Chiang Mai. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Szombathely and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $433 per month in Szombathely and $736 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?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Szombathely, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Szombathely or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,222 in Szombathely and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Szombathely or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,222 in Szombathely. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Szombathely compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Szombathely or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries 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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