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 $1,332 per month in Torun vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,901 per month in Torun vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,469 per month in Torun vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Torun costs about 54% 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 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.36 zł 34.14

$1.94 ฿63.5

382.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.26 zł 150

$18.64 ฿609

121.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 zł 29.55

$7.82 ฿255

3.58%

Cappuccino

$3.34 zł 12.17

$1.95 ฿63.8

71.28%

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

$1.93 zł 7.04

$0.85 ฿27.77

127.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 zł 4.57

$0.35 ฿11.58

257.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 zł 9.29

$2.13 ฿69.6

19.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 zł 11.53

$3.73 ฿122

-15.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 zł 3.97

$1.71 ฿56.0

-36.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 zł 4.30

$1.63 ฿53.2

-27.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 zł 4.32

$1.14 ฿37.15

3.51%

Eggs

$3.00 zł 10.94

$1.93 ฿63.1

55.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.42 zł 30.69

$16.21 ฿530

-48.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 zł 24.50

$3.12 ฿102

115.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.65 zł 38.85

$10.90 ฿356

-2.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 zł 4.40

$2.75 ฿90.0

-56.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 zł 6.59

$1.21 ฿39.52

49.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 zł 6.31

$1.62 ฿53.0

6.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.91 zł 10.61

$1.59 ฿51.8

83.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 zł 3.30

$1.40 ฿45.70

-35.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 zł 4.58

$1.17 ฿38.17

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 zł 4.35

$0.66 ฿21.60

80.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 zł 1.99

$0.53 ฿17.22

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.00 zł 18.24

$4.69 ฿153

6.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 zł 27.49

$18.66 ฿609

-59.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 zł 4.38

$1.80 ฿58.8

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 zł 6.92

$3.23 ฿106

-41.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 zł 3.84

$0.90 ฿29.26

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.08 zł 87.8

$19.21 ฿628

25.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 zł 8.12

$1.41 ฿45.91

58.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 zł 1.74

$1.29 ฿42.12

-62.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 zł 25.36

$7.84 ฿256

-11.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 zł 6.35

$1.27 ฿41.58

37.01%

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

$33.5K zł 122.1K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

57.34%

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

$29.2K zł 106.3K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

31.27%

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

$218 zł 794

$69.1 ฿2,256

215.09%

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

$8.74 zł 31.86

$14.08 ฿460

-37.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.99 zł 62.0

$18.00 ฿588

-5.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.01 zł 179

$41.06 ฿1,341

19.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.10 zł 84.3

$6.96 ฿227

231.90%

Cinema Ticket

$8.12 zł 29.62

$5.92 ฿193

37.16%

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

$228 zł 832

$299 ฿9,766

-23.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,592 zł 35.0K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-35.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 zł 333

$54.7 ฿1,787

66.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.15 zł 114

$26.77 ฿874

16.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 zł 273

$85.0 ฿2,776

-12.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 zł 348

$70.6 ฿2,306

35.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 zł 1,953

$428 ฿14.0K

25.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 zł 1,675

$237 ฿7,752

93.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$783 zł 2,854

$801 ฿26.2K

-2.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 zł 2,354

$515 ฿16.8K

25.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,466 zł 12.6K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

75.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,318 zł 8,453

$1,475 ฿48.2K

57.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,803 zł 6,576

$617 ฿20.2K

192.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

35.60%

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

Last update for Torun: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $536 in Torun 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 192% 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 $41.00 in Torun versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Torun vs $246 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 54% 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 $1,999 per month in Torun and $1,300 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 $228 per month in Torun and $299 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 17% 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 $866, than in Torun at $1,332. 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 $866 versus $1,332 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.