😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,997 in Aurillac versus $950 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,060 in Aurillac versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,122 in Aurillac versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Aurillac is roughly 110% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aurillac is 45% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.37€14.98
$2.10฿69.3
727.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3€60.6
$19.84฿656
254.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.74€11.84
$5.79฿191
137.31%
Cappuccino
$4.33€3.73
$1.83฿60.4
136.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.49
$0.78฿25.61
270.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.58
$0.31฿10.37
490.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.08€6.96
$2.34฿77.2
245.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27€5.41
$3.70฿122
69.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62€1.40
$2.03฿67.1
-20.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10€1.81
$1.60฿52.7
31.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$1.42฿46.75
95.07%
Eggs
$4.72€4.07
$2.18฿71.9
116.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.87€20.58
$15.91฿526
50.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.65€11.77
$3.07฿102
344.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.55€23.75
$9.87฿326
179.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$2.63฿86.8
-10.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.13
$1.10฿36.19
125.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.48€3.00
$1.63฿53.8
113.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.30€2.84
$1.53฿50.6
115.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.88€2.48
$1.24฿41.13
132.26%
Onion(1kg)
$3.01€2.60
$1.13฿37.37
166.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.29
$0.74฿24.38
102.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24€1.07
$0.50฿16.48
148.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.55€12.55
$4.28฿141
239.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.67€7.48
$17.97฿594
-51.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94€2.53
$1.70฿56.1
72.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.06
$2.90฿95.7
22.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99€1.72
$0.94฿31.13
111.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.8€43.81
$55.3฿1,827
-8.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.69€7.49
$1.23฿40.76
606.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.24€1.93
$0.53฿17.66
322.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.01€37.08
$2.40฿79.3
1692.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.44฿47.55
61.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K€30.8K
$21.2K฿700.2K
68.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K€31.3K
$27.3K฿902.1K
33.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$274€236
$64.9฿2,145
322.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03€12.96
$13.35฿441
12.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.48€28.00
$20.83฿688
55.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.72€31.65
$40.42฿1,336
-9.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.29€13.18
$6.71฿222
127.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$648€558
$787฿26.0K
-17.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0K€10.3K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-20.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119€103
$56.2฿1,858
111.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.18€41.53
$24.95฿824
93.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€109
$92.7฿3,063
36.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€112
$75.1฿2,482
72.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797€687
$484฿16.0K
64.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$651€561
$287฿9,491
126.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,460€1,258
$910฿30.1K
60.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,151€993
$531฿17.5K
116.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,128€3,558
$1,980฿65.4K
108.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,141€2,708
$1,451฿47.9K
116.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurillac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,044€3,486
$605฿20.0K
568.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.68
5.57
-33.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aurillac: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $797 in Aurillac and $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aurillac pays 568% 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 Aurillac vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $421 vs $242 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
Aurillac vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Aurillac?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 110% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aurillac or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 568% higher in Aurillac, 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 Aurillac and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $797 in Aurillac versus $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $648 in Aurillac versus $787 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Aurillac and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Aurillac. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Aurillac or in Chiang Mai?
At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $1,997 in Aurillac, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aurillac. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aurillac or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aurillac, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aurillac or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Aurillac 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 110% less than in Aurillac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.