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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,369 per month in Torun vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,022 per month in Torun vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,676 per month in Torun vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Torun costs about 44% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Torun and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Torun 1% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.78 zł 40.19

$2.10 ฿69.4

413.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.6 zł 204

$19.84 ฿656

175.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.60 zł 35.80

$5.79 ฿192

65.80%

Cappuccino

$3.51 zł 13.09

$1.83 ฿60.5

91.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 zł 7.13

$0.78 ฿25.63

144.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 zł 6.28

$0.31 ฿10.38

441.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 zł 10.21

$2.34 ฿77.3

17.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 zł 15.80

$3.70 ฿122

14.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 zł 3.85

$2.03 ฿67.1

-49.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 zł 4.76

$1.60 ฿52.8

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 zł 6.19

$1.42 ฿46.80

16.90%

Eggs

$3.13 zł 11.69

$2.18 ฿72.0

43.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.31 zł 30.99

$15.91 ฿526

-47.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 zł 24.42

$3.07 ฿102

113.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.02 zł 56.0

$9.87 ฿326

52.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 zł 4.29

$2.63 ฿86.9

-56.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 zł 6.31

$1.10 ฿36.23

53.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 zł 6.21

$1.63 ฿53.9

2.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 zł 12.50

$1.53 ฿50.6

118.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 zł 3.45

$1.24 ฿41.16

-25.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 zł 5.48

$1.13 ฿37.40

30.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 zł 6.01

$0.74 ฿24.41

117.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 zł 2.04

$0.50 ฿16.50

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 zł 18.52

$4.28 ฿142

16.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.28 zł 27.14

$17.97 ฿594

-59.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 zł 6.21

$1.70 ฿56.2

-1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 zł 8.31

$2.90 ฿95.8

-23.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 zł 4.62

$0.94 ฿31.15

31.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.58 zł 99.1

$55.3 ฿1,828

-51.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 zł 7.83

$1.23 ฿40.80

70.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 zł 3.92

$0.53 ฿17.67

98.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.88 zł 25.65

$2.40 ฿79.4

186.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 zł 6.16

$1.44 ฿47.60

14.58%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.1K zł 119.7K

$21.2K ฿700.9K

51.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.4K zł 105.8K

$27.3K ฿903.0K

3.94%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$198 zł 740

$64.9 ฿2,147

205.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.30 zł 42.13

$13.35 ฿442

-15.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.12 zł 67.6

$20.83 ฿689

-13.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.96 zł 149

$40.42 ฿1,337

-1.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.73 zł 84.8

$3.95 ฿131

475.44%

Cinema Ticket

$8.15 zł 30.38

$6.71 ฿222

21.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$257 zł 958

$787 ฿26.0K

-67.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,451 zł 20.3K

$15.1K ฿500.1K

-63.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 zł 341

$56.2 ฿1,859

62.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.23 zł 154

$24.95 ฿825

65.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 zł 327

$92.7 ฿3,066

-5.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 zł 461

$75.1 ฿2,484

64.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 zł 2,113

$484 ฿16.0K

17.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 zł 1,841

$287 ฿9,500

71.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 zł 3,336

$910 ฿30.1K

-1.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 zł 2,375

$531 ฿17.5K

20.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,552 zł 13.2K

$1,980 ฿65.5K

79.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,329 zł 8,687

$1,451 ฿48.0K

60.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,849 zł 6,896

$605 ฿20.0K

205.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

5.57

11.49%

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

Last update for Torun: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $567 in Torun versus $484 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 205% higher in Torun, 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 $55.0 in Torun versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Torun vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Torun 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

Torun vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Torun costs about 44% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,053 per month in Torun and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $257 per month in Torun and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Torun – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Torun at $1,369. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Torun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,369 in Torun. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Torun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.