😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,311 in Bregenz versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,423 in Bregenz versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,535 in Bregenz versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Bregenz is roughly 171% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bregenz is 74% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.47€16.00
$2.04฿68.2
805.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.7€70.8
$18.71฿624
336.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.03
$7.86฿262
47.33%
Cappuccino
$4.13€3.58
$2.03฿67.7
103.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.17
$0.80฿26.64
357.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22€2.79
$0.35฿11.68
820.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06€4.38
$2.14฿71.5
136.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71€4.08
$3.67฿122
28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79€1.55
$1.73฿57.6
3.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.96€2.57
$1.57฿52.4
88.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15€1.86
$1.20฿39.99
79.17%
Eggs
$4.34€3.76
$1.97฿65.8
120.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26€14.08
$16.23฿541
0.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.69€11.86
$3.06฿102
347.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.94€18.13
$10.80฿360
93.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03€2.63
$2.77฿92.3
9.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.78
$1.17฿38.94
76.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37€2.06
$1.71฿57.0
38.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56€3.08
$1.59฿53.2
123.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.39฿46.51
45.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$1.16฿38.56
56.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79€1.55
$0.66฿22.05
171.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.60
$0.52฿17.31
34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.05
$4.65฿155
50.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.75€6.72
$17.78฿593
-56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$1.79฿59.6
-26.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.37
$3.34฿111
-52.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04€2.63
$0.91฿30.27
234.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.09€40.78
$18.64฿622
152.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.89€8.57
$1.41฿47.04
601.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.84
$1.34฿44.70
58.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.38€29.78
$8.11฿270
323.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72€1.49
$1.23฿41.16
39.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€24.9K
$21.4K฿715.1K
34.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K€31.0K
$21.8K฿728.0K
64.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$417€361
$71.3฿2,379
484.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.58€19.55
$14.01฿467
61.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.53€29.90
$17.93฿598
92.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0€55.4
$40.82฿1,362
56.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.13€22.63
$6.88฿230
279.80%
Cinema Ticket
$14.43€12.49
$5.72฿191
152.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$892€772
$308฿10.3K
189.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,291€6,314
$14.7K฿489.7K
-50.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.51€39.41
$55.8฿1,860
-18.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.05€22.56
$26.04฿869
0.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.9€56.2
$84.8฿2,829
-23.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€121
$71.0฿2,368
96.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,054€913
$423฿14.1K
149.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$871€754
$242฿8,088
259.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,763€1,527
$797฿26.6K
121.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,576€1,365
$507฿16.9K
210.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,456€6,457
$1,918฿64.0K
288.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,914€5,121
$1,464฿48.8K
303.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bregenz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,440€2,113
$595฿19.9K
309.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
5
-25.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bregenz: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,054 in Bregenz and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bregenz pays 310% 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 Bregenz vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $244 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
Bregenz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bregenz and in Chiang Mai?
Bregenz and Chiang Mai differ by about 171% in total monthly costs ($2,311 vs $852 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bregenz or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 310% higher in Bregenz, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bregenz and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,054 in Bregenz versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $82.0 in Bregenz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bregenz or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,311 per month in Bregenz versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 171% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $2,311 in Bregenz, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bregenz. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bregenz and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bregenz or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bregenz 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.
Where should expats move: Bregenz or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 171% less than in Bregenz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.