😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,244 in Aix-en-Provence versus $932 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,610 in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,399 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,976 in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,866 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Aix-en-Provence is roughly 141% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aix-en-Provence is 64% above, Chiang Mai is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.69€18.04
$2.08฿69.5
894.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9€71.4
$19.61฿655
317.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.99€12.19
$5.67฿189
146.74%
Cappuccino
$3.92€3.42
$1.81฿60.3
116.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86€3.37
$0.77฿25.65
401.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.07
$0.35฿11.53
577.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.11€7.07
$2.21฿73.9
266.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83€5.95
$3.79฿127
80.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.19
$2.05฿68.4
-33.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30€2.01
$1.51฿50.6
52.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81€2.45
$1.40฿46.69
100.71%
Eggs
$4.87€4.25
$2.26฿75.4
115.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.04€19.22
$16.19฿540
36.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.26€15.04
$2.90฿96.7
495.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.19€21.09
$9.42฿314
156.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.29
$2.68฿89.4
-1.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$1.09฿36.37
83.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.57€2.24
$1.62฿54.0
58.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08€3.56
$1.46฿48.74
179.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.28฿42.65
36.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69€2.35
$1.06฿35.31
153.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83€1.60
$0.72฿23.94
154.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.75
$0.53฿17.56
62.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.69€11.06
$4.23฿141
200.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.50€8.28
$18.29฿611
-48.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62€3.15
$1.63฿54.4
122.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10€3.58
$2.90฿96.8
41.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48€1.29
$0.88฿29.32
68.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.05€29.68
$53.8฿1,795
-36.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.95€2.57
$1.17฿39.14
152.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46€2.15
$0.58฿19.30
324.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.48€25.70
$2.39฿79.6
1133.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.90
$1.45฿48.41
50.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$21.0K฿701.4K
66.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K€31.9K
$26.4K฿882.0K
38.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186€162
$63.7฿2,125
192.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.38€15.15
$12.89฿430
34.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.90€30.42
$20.52฿685
70.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.47€34.41
$39.02฿1,302
1.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.34€18.60
$3.92฿131
444.39%
Cinema Ticket
$16.86€14.70
$6.58฿220
156.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,094€954
$784฿26.2K
39.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K€14.0K
$14.7K฿489.8K
9.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€98.5
$55.1฿1,840
104.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.5€63.2
$24.74฿826
193.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€95.7
$94.1฿3,142
16.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$176€154
$74.0฿2,469
138.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,265€1,103
$490฿16.4K
157.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910€794
$288฿9,620
215.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,235€1,949
$891฿29.8K
150.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,834€1,599
$521฿17.4K
252.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,682€6,697
$1,974฿65.9K
289.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,866€4,241
$1,444฿48.2K
236.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aix-en-Provence
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,531€3,078
$602฿20.1K
486.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.9
5.57
-29.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aix-en-Provence: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Aix-en-Provence and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aix-en-Provence pays 487% 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: $82.0 in Aix-en-Provence vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $422 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 141% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aix-en-Provence or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 487% higher in Aix-en-Provence, 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: $1,265 in Aix-en-Provence versus $490 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 and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,244 per month in Aix-en-Provence versus $932 in Chiang Mai – a 141% 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 58% 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 living in Aix-en-Provence or in Chiang Mai?
At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $2,244 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 141% 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