😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,127 in Aix-en-Provence versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,258 in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,390 in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Aix-en-Provence is roughly 145% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aix-en-Provence is 58% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.14€14.77
$1.98฿64.3
765.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€50.4
$18.80฿612
211.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.71€10.95
$7.75฿252
64.00%
Cappuccino
$3.51€3.02
$1.92฿62.5
82.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.26
$0.79฿25.79
232.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.49
$0.36฿11.62
380.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.14€6.16
$2.21฿72.1
223.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79€5.85
$3.66฿119
85.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.18
$1.65฿53.8
-17.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64€1.41
$1.63฿53.2
0.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.52€2.17
$1.19฿38.86
111.76%
Eggs
$4.28€3.69
$2.00฿65.1
114.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.07€17.29
$15.98฿520
25.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.96€10.30
$3.03฿98.5
294.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.15€14.78
$10.86฿354
57.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$2.76฿90.0
-18.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.18฿38.42
70.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.52€2.17
$1.64฿53.5
53.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.09
$1.52฿49.51
59.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.38฿45.10
24.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27€1.96
$1.19฿38.84
90.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.27
$0.70฿22.86
111.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.56฿18.13
46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.97€11.18
$4.58฿149
183.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.64€7.44
$16.56฿539
-47.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.08
$1.83฿59.5
95.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.31
$3.20฿104
-16.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.53€1.32
$0.88฿28.56
73.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.05€29.33
$18.72฿610
81.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93€2.53
$1.36฿44.16
115.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83€1.58
$1.34฿43.65
36.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.85€29.16
$7.84฿256
331.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.73
$1.23฿39.92
63.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K€27.6K
$21.6K฿704.3K
48.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€33.2K
$22.5K฿734.3K
70.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214€185
$70.5฿2,298
203.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.31€22.67
$13.68฿445
92.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.34€32.17
$17.45฿568
113.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.93€34.40
$41.33฿1,346
-3.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.03€14.68
$6.96฿227
144.68%
Cinema Ticket
$15.51€13.37
$5.77฿188
168.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,103€951
$307฿10.0K
259.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K€11.5K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-8.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$134€115
$55.8฿1,817
139.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.5€54.7
$26.21฿854
142.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€86.3
$85.8฿2,793
16.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140€121
$72.2฿2,353
93.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,174€1,012
$430฿14.0K
173.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$862€743
$239฿7,774
261.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034€1,753
$817฿26.6K
148.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,691€1,457
$511฿16.6K
231.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,878€6,787
$1,983฿64.6K
297.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,892€4,215
$1,484฿48.3K
229.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,550€3,058
$619฿20.2K
473.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
5
-30.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aix-en-Provence: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,174 in Aix-en-Provence and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aix-en-Provence pays 474% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Aix-en-Provence vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $241 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
Aix-en-Provence vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Aix-en-Provence?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 145% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aix-en-Provence or Chiang Mai?
Aix-en-Provence pays 474% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Aix-en-Provence and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,174 in Aix-en-Provence versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Aix-en-Provence vs Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,127 per month in Aix-en-Provence versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 82% less than in Aix-en-Provence. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Aix-en-Provence or Chiang Mai?
At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $2,127 in Aix-en-Provence, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aix-en-Provence. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aix-en-Provence or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aix-en-Provence, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aix-en-Provence or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Aix-en-Provence and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Aix-en-Provence. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Aix-en-Provence vs other spots: cost of living compared