Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellinzona and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellinzona and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,849 per month in Bellinzona vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,852 per month in Bellinzona vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,854 per month in Bellinzona vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bellinzona costs about 352% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bellinzona sits 189% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.20 CHF 24.57

$2.04 ฿68.4

1380.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 CHF 89.0

$18.71 ฿626

484.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.31 CHF 14.89

$7.86 ฿263

132.95%

Cappuccino

$4.34 CHF 3.53

$2.03 ฿67.9

113.79%

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

$4.87 CHF 3.96

$0.80 ฿26.71

508.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CHF 3.38

$0.35 ฿11.71

1085.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.60 CHF 6.18

$2.14 ฿71.7

255.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.27 CHF 5.10

$3.67 ฿123

70.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.84

$1.73 ฿57.8

30.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 CHF 3.29

$1.57 ฿52.5

157.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 CHF 4.27

$1.20 ฿40.10

337.50%

Eggs

$7.79 CHF 6.34

$1.97 ฿66.0

295.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.22 CHF 23.77

$16.23 ฿543

80.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$36.59 CHF 29.77

$3.06 ฿102

1095.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$48.53 CHF 39.47

$10.80 ฿361

349.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 CHF 3.06

$2.77 ฿92.6

35.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 CHF 1.68

$1.17 ฿39.05

76.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 CHF 2.21

$1.71 ฿57.1

59.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.64 CHF 6.21

$1.59 ฿53.3

380.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.87

$1.39 ฿46.63

65.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 CHF 2.04

$1.16 ฿38.67

116.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CHF 2.13

$0.66 ฿22.11

296.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CHF 1.38

$0.52 ฿17.35

226.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.82 CHF 8.80

$4.65 ฿155

132.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.28 CHF 14.87

$17.78 ฿595

2.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.13 CHF 3.36

$1.79 ฿59.8

130.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 CHF 3.44

$3.34 ฿112

26.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.98 CHF 4.87

$0.91 ฿30.35

557.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.7 CHF 79.4

$18.64 ฿624

423.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.58 CHF 5.35

$1.41 ฿47.17

366.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.39 CHF 3.57

$1.34 ฿44.82

227.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.9 CHF 50.4

$8.11 ฿271

663.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.12 CHF 1.73

$1.23 ฿41.27

72.36%

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

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

$21.4K ฿717.0K

87.38%

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

$37.2K CHF 30.2K

$21.8K ฿730.0K

70.33%

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

$298 CHF 242

$71.3 ฿2,386

317.47%

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

$67.5 CHF 54.9

$14.01 ฿469

381.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 CHF 47.62

$17.93 ฿600

226.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$110 CHF 89.3

$40.82 ฿1,365

168.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.5 CHF 52.5

$6.88 ฿230

837.21%

Cinema Ticket

$23.71 CHF 19.29

$5.72 ฿191

314.51%

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

$1,840 CHF 1,496

$308 ฿10.3K

496.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.0K CHF 28.5K

$14.7K ฿491.0K

138.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$124 CHF 101

$55.8 ฿1,865

122.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.84 CHF 39.73

$26.04 ฿871

87.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 CHF 124

$84.8 ฿2,837

80.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$185 CHF 151

$71.0 ฿2,375

160.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 CHF 1,485

$423 ฿14.2K

331.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,735 CHF 1,411

$242 ฿8,110

615.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,801 CHF 2,278

$797 ฿26.7K

251.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,981 CHF 2,425

$507 ฿17.0K

488.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K CHF 11.1K

$1,918 ฿64.2K

609.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K CHF 8,620

$1,464 ฿49.0K

623.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,042 CHF 4,915

$595 ฿19.9K

915.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

-50.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bellinzona: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,826 in Bellinzona versus $423 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 915% higher in Bellinzona, 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 $109 in Bellinzona versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $720 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bellinzona vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,849 in Bellinzona, $852 in Chiang Mai – roughly 352% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,774 per month in Bellinzona and $1,279 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,849 in Bellinzona and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 424% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Bellinzona at $3,849. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bellinzona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $852 in Chiang Mai to $3,849 in Bellinzona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Bellinzona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.