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 $1,302 per month in Torun vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Torun vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,414 per month in Torun vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Torun costs about 51% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Torun and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Torun 3% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.46 zł 35.90

$1.96 ฿65.8

382.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.14 zł 152

$18.35 ฿617

118.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 zł 30.97

$7.48 ฿252

9.09%

Cappuccino

$3.30 zł 12.51

$2.02 ฿67.8

63.37%

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

$1.83 zł 6.94

$0.85 ฿28.50

115.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 zł 4.75

$0.36 ฿11.96

247.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 zł 10.00

$2.14 ฿71.8

22.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 zł 12.65

$3.59 ฿121

-7.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 zł 4.10

$1.65 ฿55.5

-34.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 zł 4.53

$1.57 ฿52.7

-23.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 zł 4.63

$1.19 ฿40.02

2.52%

Eggs

$3.17 zł 12.02

$1.94 ฿65.1

63.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.82 zł 33.47

$16.19 ฿544

-45.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 zł 26.13

$2.99 ฿101

130.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 zł 40.70

$10.94 ฿368

-1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 zł 4.39

$2.71 ฿91.2

-57.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 zł 6.86

$1.17 ฿39.25

54.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 zł 6.52

$1.69 ฿56.7

1.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 zł 11.08

$1.60 ฿54.0

82.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 zł 3.41

$1.38 ฿46.54

-34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 zł 4.58

$1.20 ฿40.45

0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 zł 4.51

$0.67 ฿22.50

77.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 zł 2.21

$0.56 ฿18.73

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.98 zł 18.90

$4.64 ฿156

7.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.32 zł 27.79

$17.62 ฿593

-58.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 zł 4.63

$1.86 ฿62.5

-34.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 zł 7.15

$3.30 ฿111

-43.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 zł 3.98

$0.88 ฿29.68

19.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.14 zł 91.6

$19.34 ฿650

24.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 zł 8.17

$1.36 ฿45.90

58.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 zł 1.98

$1.34 ฿44.98

-61.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.81 zł 25.86

$8.21 ฿276

-17.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 zł 6.58

$1.22 ฿41.18

41.80%

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

$33.3K zł 126.3K

$21.4K ฿718.1K

55.86%

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

$29.0K zł 109.9K

$22.5K ฿757.7K

28.58%

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

$219 zł 833

$70.7 ฿2,376

210.54%

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

$8.69 zł 32.98

$14.04 ฿472

-38.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.67 zł 63.3

$17.49 ฿588

-4.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.23 zł 183

$42.15 ฿1,417

14.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.37 zł 88.7

$6.88 ฿231

239.68%

Cinema Ticket

$8.33 zł 31.62

$5.92 ฿199

40.71%

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

$220 zł 835

$309 ฿10.4K

-28.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,563 zł 36.3K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-35.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.6 zł 355

$55.8 ฿1,875

67.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.82 zł 117

$26.11 ฿878

18.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 zł 292

$83.0 ฿2,792

-7.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 zł 361

$70.5 ฿2,369

35.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 zł 2,034

$432 ฿14.5K

24.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 zł 1,780

$239 ฿8,035

96.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$774 zł 2,938

$822 ฿27.7K

-5.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 zł 2,468

$512 ฿17.2K

27.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 zł 12.2K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

67.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,220 zł 8,424

$1,467 ฿49.3K

51.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,825 zł 6,925

$579 ฿19.5K

215.04%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $536 in Torun 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 215% 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 $40.00 in Torun versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Torun vs $243 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 51% 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 $1,953 per month in Torun and $1,292 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 $220 per month in Torun and $309 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 14% 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 $861, than in Torun at $1,302. 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 $861 versus $1,302 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.