😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,864 in Boulogne-Billancourt versus $947 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,152 in Boulogne-Billancourt versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,439 in Boulogne-Billancourt versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Boulogne-Billancourt is roughly 202% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Boulogne-Billancourt is 108% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.78€16.21
$2.08฿69.2
802.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9€61.2
$19.64฿651
261.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.01€12.09
$5.65฿188
147.96%
Cappuccino
$5.02€4.33
$1.81฿59.9
177.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.99
$0.71฿23.66
550.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.53
$0.32฿10.48
815.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.63€6.58
$2.24฿74.2
240.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72€4.94
$3.63฿121
57.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48€1.28
$1.96฿65.0
-24.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26€1.95
$1.50฿49.83
50.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.89€2.50
$1.34฿44.32
115.67%
Eggs
$4.56€3.94
$2.26฿75.1
101.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.55€20.32
$16.26฿539
44.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.47€9.89
$2.95฿98.0
288.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.12€18.23
$9.94฿330
112.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56€3.07
$2.57฿85.3
38.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30€1.98
$1.06฿35.04
116.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.97€2.56
$1.61฿53.5
84.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10€3.54
$1.52฿50.4
169.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.69
$1.27฿42.14
54.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26€1.95
$1.07฿35.37
111.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99€1.72
$0.72฿23.89
176.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68€0.59
$0.51฿16.87
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.98€12.06
$4.19฿139
233.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.08€7.83
$17.87฿593
-49.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.09
$1.69฿56.2
43.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50€2.16
$2.84฿94.1
-11.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.48€2.14
$0.93฿30.70
166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.1€43.19
$53.9฿1,787
-7.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.45€8.16
$1.23฿40.95
668.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18€1.01
$0.58฿19.13
103.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.09€30.28
$2.42฿80.4
1350.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.91
$1.41฿46.84
57.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$21.4K฿711.3K
68.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.6K
$27.3K฿906.7K
21.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$270€233
$63.7฿2,112
323.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.45€15.06
$12.85฿426
35.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.10€32.01
$20.22฿671
83.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.53€32.38
$38.74฿1,285
-3.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.91€19.77
$3.97฿132
477.08%
Cinema Ticket
$14.87€12.83
$6.74฿223
120.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$860€742
$778฿25.8K
10.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,147
$14.6K฿484.6K
-27.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115€99.5
$54.3฿1,801
112.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.57
$25.45฿844
61.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€98.6
$94.3฿3,129
21.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152€131
$73.4฿2,436
106.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,387€1,197
$490฿16.2K
183.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496€1,290
$289฿9,596
416.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,762€2,383
$894฿29.6K
209.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,459€2,122
$517฿17.1K
375.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,075€3,516
$1,955฿64.9K
108.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,176€2,741
$1,477฿49.0K
115.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boulogne-Billancourt
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,279€3,692
$602฿20.0K
610.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.57
-31.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Boulogne-Billancourt: August 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,387 in Boulogne-Billancourt and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Boulogne-Billancourt pays 611% 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: $71.0 in Boulogne-Billancourt vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $240 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
Boulogne-Billancourt vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Boulogne-Billancourt?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 202% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Boulogne-Billancourt or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 611% higher in Boulogne-Billancourt, 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 Boulogne-Billancourt and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,387 in Boulogne-Billancourt versus $490 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 $860 in Boulogne-Billancourt versus $778 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 Boulogne-Billancourt and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in Boulogne-Billancourt. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Boulogne-Billancourt or in Chiang Mai?
At $947 in Chiang Mai versus $2,864 in Boulogne-Billancourt, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Boulogne-Billancourt. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Boulogne-Billancourt or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boulogne-Billancourt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Boulogne-Billancourt or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Boulogne-Billancourt 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 202% less than in Boulogne-Billancourt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Boulogne-Billancourt vs other spots: cost of living compared