😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,620 in Amiens versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,360 in Amiens versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,100 in Amiens versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Amiens is roughly 88% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amiens is 21% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05€14.90
$1.96฿65.7
769.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€61.0
$18.35฿616
280.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.12
$7.48฿251
54.81%
Cappuccino
$3.82€3.34
$2.02฿67.7
89.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.85฿28.45
169.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.98
$0.36฿11.94
213.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03€6.14
$2.14฿71.7
228.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28€4.61
$3.59฿121
47.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04€0.91
$1.65฿55.4
-36.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80€1.58
$1.57฿52.6
14.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.64€2.31
$1.19฿39.95
121.85%
Eggs
$3.92€3.42
$1.94฿65.0
102.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.62€17.15
$16.19฿544
21.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.89€11.27
$2.99฿100
331.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.02€20.99
$10.94฿367
119.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€2.00
$2.71฿91.0
-15.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04€1.79
$1.17฿39.18
74.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.42€2.12
$1.69฿56.6
43.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.02€2.64
$1.60฿53.9
88.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61€1.41
$1.38฿46.45
16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91€1.67
$1.20฿40.38
59.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19€1.04
$0.67฿22.46
77.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66€0.58
$0.56฿18.70
17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.57€11.86
$4.64฿156
192.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€5.00
$17.62฿591
-67.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.53
$1.86฿62.4
-5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.48
$3.30฿111
-13.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.21€1.93
$0.88฿29.63
151.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.8€69.7
$19.34฿649
312.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88€2.51
$1.36฿45.82
111.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.79
$1.34฿44.90
52.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.29€25.59
$8.21฿276
256.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.79
$1.22฿41.11
68.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K€24.6K
$21.4K฿716.8K
31.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.8K
$22.5K฿756.3K
51.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137€120
$70.7฿2,372
94.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.49€20.53
$14.04฿471
67.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.13€25.45
$17.49฿587
66.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.97€30.56
$42.15฿1,415
-17.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.18€15.88
$6.88฿231
164.24%
Cinema Ticket
$14.68€12.83
$5.92฿199
147.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$575€503
$309฿10.4K
86.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,711€7,611
$14.9K฿499.5K
-41.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7€46.01
$55.8฿1,872
-5.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.03€32.35
$26.11฿877
41.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0€75.1
$83.0฿2,787
3.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1€81.4
$70.5฿2,365
32.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$653€570
$432฿14.5K
51.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486€424
$239฿8,020
103.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738€644
$822฿27.6K
-10.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$577€504
$512฿17.2K
12.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,543€3,096
$1,915฿64.3K
85.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,259€1,974
$1,467฿49.3K
53.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amiens
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,416€2,984
$579฿19.4K
489.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
5
-27.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amiens: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $653 in Amiens and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amiens pays 490% 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: $70.0 in Amiens vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $243 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
Amiens vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Amiens or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 88% lower than in Amiens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Amiens or in Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 490% higher in Amiens, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Amiens compared to Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $653 in Amiens versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Amiens and in Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $575 in Amiens versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Amiens or in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Amiens. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Amiens or in Chiang Mai?
At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,620 in Amiens, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Amiens. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Amiens or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Amiens compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Amiens 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Amiens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.