Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarnow and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $1,182 in Tarnow, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tarnow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,182
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tarnow 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 Tarnow and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,182 per month in Tarnow vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tarnow $1,182
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,638 per month in Tarnow vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tarnow $1,638
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $2,093 per month in Tarnow vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tarnow $2,093
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Tarnow costs about 28% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Tarnow and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tarnow 13% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.34 zł 40.16
$2.29 ฿76.5
351.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.16 zł 97.8
$19.64 ฿656
28.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.43 zł 24.96
$5.61 ฿188
14.62%
Cappuccino
$2.55 zł 9.91
$1.66 ฿55.6
53.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 zł 8.57
$0.70 ฿23.40
215.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 zł 5.03
$0.31 ฿10.24
316.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.79 zł 14.73
$2.41 ฿80.4
57.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 zł 14.54
$3.71 ฿124
0.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 zł 3.60
$1.95 ฿65.3
-52.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 zł 4.45
$1.41 ฿47.03
-18.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 zł 4.87
$1.31 ฿43.62
-4.58%
Eggs
$2.44 zł 9.48
$2.18 ฿72.9
11.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.86 zł 30.55
$16.65 ฿556
-52.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 zł 22.70
$2.76 ฿92.2
111.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.78 zł 37.98
$9.11 ฿304
7.35%
Apples (1kg)
$0.73 zł 2.84
$2.39 ฿80.0
-69.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 zł 6.04
$1.03 ฿34.26
50.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 zł 5.01
$1.63 ฿54.4
-20.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 zł 7.42
$1.50 ฿50.0
27.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 zł 3.06
$1.29 ฿43.13
-38.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 zł 3.96
$1.11 ฿37.03
-8.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 zł 4.12
$0.72 ฿24.08
47.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 zł 2.91
$0.53 ฿17.59
41.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 zł 16.75
$4.31 ฿144
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.28 zł 24.41
$17.95 ฿600
-65.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 zł 3.50
$1.58 ฿52.9
-43.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 zł 5.26
$2.84 ฿95.0
-52.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 zł 3.76
$0.86 ฿28.86
12.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.58 zł 119
$53.3 ฿1,780
-42.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 zł 5.06
$1.21 ฿40.29
7.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 zł 2.92
$0.57 ฿18.99
31.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.45 zł 40.59
$2.35 ฿78.6
344.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 zł 6.31
$1.44 ฿47.96
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K zł 121.2K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
50.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K zł 95.8K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-8.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 zł 940
$62.3 ฿2,083
288.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49 zł 36.86
$12.11 ฿405
-21.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.41 zł 63.8
$19.94 ฿666
-17.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.48 zł 99.0
$37.07 ฿1,239
-31.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.65 zł 45.27
$3.78 ฿126
208.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.52 zł 17.55
$6.50 ฿217
-30.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$287 zł 1,117
$793 ฿26.5K
-63.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,538 zł 9,859
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-82.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.4 zł 309
$53.7 ฿1,796
47.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.87 zł 101
$24.62 ฿823
5.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 zł 301
$90.9 ฿3,036
-14.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 zł 430
$71.1 ฿2,378
55.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$437 zł 1,700
$455 ฿15.2K
-3.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 zł 1,369
$298 ฿9,954
18.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 zł 2,423
$908 ฿30.4K
-31.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 zł 1,799
$554 ฿18.5K
-16.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,657 zł 10.3K
$1,931 ฿64.5K
37.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,750 zł 6,799
$1,445 ฿48.3K
21.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarnow
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,000 zł 3,884
$591 ฿19.7K
69.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
5.57
19.93%

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

Last update for Tarnow: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tarnow
$352
Chiang Mai
$298 15.5% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarnow
$268
Chiang Mai
$94 64.8% $173
Groceries & Markets
Tarnow
$183
Chiang Mai
$235 28.9% $53
Eating Out
Tarnow
$173
Chiang Mai
$79 54.6% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Tarnow
$132
Chiang Mai
$108 18.1% $24
Getting Around
Tarnow
$40
Chiang Mai
$61 53.9% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Tarnow
$35
Chiang Mai
$50 45% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Tarnow versus $455 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 69% higher in Tarnow, 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 Tarnow versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $183 in Tarnow vs $235 in Chiang Mai – so Tarnow wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Tarnow
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
20:31 8:31 PM
01:31 1:31 AM
5 h ahead of Tarnow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
106,748
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tarnow Chiang Mai 7,570 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tarnow
  • 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
Tarnow vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tarnow or Chiang Mai?
Tarnow costs about 28% 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 Tarnow and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,773 per month in Tarnow and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tarnow 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 Tarnow and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Tarnow and $793 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 Tarnow or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Tarnow – 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 Tarnow or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Tarnow at $1,182. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tarnow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tarnow or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $1,182 in Tarnow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tarnow 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 Tarnow or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tarnow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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