Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brissago and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $3,504 in Brissago, rent and utilities included – about $30,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brissago, Switzerland
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Brissago
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,504
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brissago and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brissago and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,504 per month in Brissago vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Brissago $3,504
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $5,141 per month in Brissago vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Brissago $5,141
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $6,777 per month in Brissago vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Brissago $6,777
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Brissago costs about 279% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Brissago sits 159% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.38 CHF 24.32
$2.29 ฿77.2
1182.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123 CHF 102
$19.64 ฿663
528.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.55 CHF 12.87
$5.61 ฿190
177.18%
Cappuccino
$6.77 CHF 5.61
$1.66 ฿56.2
307.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 CHF 5.24
$0.70 ฿23.63
804.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21 CHF 5.97
$0.31 ฿10.34
2225.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.14 CHF 7.57
$2.41 ฿81.2
279.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99 CHF 6.61
$3.71 ฿125
115.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 CHF 1.75
$1.95 ฿65.9
8.72%
White Bread (500g)
$3.00 CHF 2.48
$1.41 ฿47.51
112.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 CHF 2.60
$1.31 ฿44.07
139.69%
Eggs
$7.88 CHF 6.53
$2.18 ฿73.6
261.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.67 CHF 20.42
$16.65 ฿562
48.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$29.66 CHF 24.55
$2.76 ฿93.1
974.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$39.72 CHF 32.88
$9.11 ฿307
336.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.03 CHF 3.34
$2.39 ฿80.8
68.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 CHF 1.65
$1.03 ฿34.61
94.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 CHF 2.28
$1.63 ฿54.9
69.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 CHF 3.94
$1.50 ฿50.6
217.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 CHF 1.37
$1.29 ฿43.57
28.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 CHF 1.72
$1.11 ฿37.40
86.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 CHF 1.90
$0.72 ฿24.32
219.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 CHF 1.12
$0.53 ฿17.77
154.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CHF 9.20
$4.31 ฿145
158.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.14 CHF 10.05
$17.95 ฿606
-32.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 CHF 1.81
$1.58 ฿53.4
38.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 CHF 2.48
$2.84 ฿96.0
5.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.69 CHF 3.88
$0.86 ฿29.15
445.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.5 CHF 76.6
$53.3 ฿1,799
73.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.06 CHF 6.67
$1.21 ฿40.70
566.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.57 CHF 3.79
$0.57 ฿19.18
701.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$108 CHF 89.0
$2.35 ฿79.4
4475.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 CHF 1.89
$1.44 ฿48.45
59.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K CHF 32.8K
$20.7K ฿699.9K
91.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K CHF 32.5K
$26.8K ฿904.8K
46.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$279 CHF 231
$62.3 ฿2,104
348.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.26 CHF 23.39
$12.11 ฿409
133.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1 CHF 46.44
$19.94 ฿673
181.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.8 CHF 66.0
$37.07 ฿1,251
115.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.62 CHF 35.27
$3.78 ฿127
1027.51%
Cinema Ticket
$24.22 CHF 20.04
$6.50 ฿219
272.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,145 CHF 2,603
$793 ฿26.8K
296.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.8K CHF 25.5K
$14.8K ฿499.9K
108.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$141 CHF 117
$53.7 ฿1,814
162.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7 CHF 51.1
$24.62 ฿831
150.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$154 CHF 128
$90.9 ฿3,067
69.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$197 CHF 163
$71.1 ฿2,402
176.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,807 CHF 1,496
$455 ฿15.4K
296.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,563 CHF 1,293
$298 ฿10.1K
424.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,635 CHF 2,181
$908 ฿30.7K
190.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,281 CHF 1,888
$554 ฿18.7K
311.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.9K CHF 15.6K
$1,931 ฿65.2K
877.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.9K CHF 9,050
$1,445 ฿48.8K
657.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brissago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$591 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.46
5.57
-55.83%

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

Last update for Brissago: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brissago
$1.6K
Chiang Mai
$298 80.9% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Brissago
$579
Chiang Mai
$235 59.4% $344
Eating Out
Brissago
$479
Chiang Mai
$79 83.6% $400
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brissago
$364
Chiang Mai
$94 74.1% $269
Clothing & Footwear
Brissago
$249
Chiang Mai
$108 56.6% $141
Getting Around
Brissago
$142
Chiang Mai
$61 57.3% $81
Sport & Entertainment
Brissago
$128
Chiang Mai
$50 60.9% $78

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,807 in Brissago versus $455 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $123 in Brissago versus $20 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $579 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Brissago
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
01:04 1:04 AM
07:04 7:04 AM
6 h ahead of Brissago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,800
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 0.828 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.927 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 33.76 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.8 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brissago Chiang Mai 8,540 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brissago
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Brissago vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Brissago and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,504 in Brissago, $925 in Chiang Mai – roughly 279% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Brissago compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,256 per month in Brissago and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Brissago and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $455 there versus $1,807 in Brissago.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 146% more in Brissago, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $123 in Brissago and $20 in Chiang Mai. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,504 in Brissago and $925 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Brissago or Chiang Mai?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Brissago or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Brissago or Chiang Mai?
For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 279% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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