😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,703 in Chambery versus $950 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,796 in Chambery versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,890 in Chambery versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Chambery is roughly 79% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chambery is 23% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18€14.76
$2.10฿69.0
718.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.18€40.55
$19.84฿653
137.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.18€12.18
$5.79฿191
144.91%
Cappuccino
$4.12€3.54
$1.83฿60.2
125.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.47
$0.78฿25.51
267.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86€1.60
$0.31฿10.33
500.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.38€7.20
$2.34฿76.9
258.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45€5.55
$3.70฿122
74.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48€1.27
$2.03฿66.8
-27.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78€1.53
$1.60฿52.5
11.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.67€2.29
$1.42฿46.57
88.03%
Eggs
$4.68€4.02
$2.18฿71.6
114.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.59€20.27
$15.91฿523
48.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.03€12.05
$3.07฿101
357.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.42€23.56
$9.87฿325
177.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38€2.05
$2.63฿86.4
-9.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43€2.08
$1.10฿36.05
120.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.48€2.99
$1.63฿53.6
113.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.47€2.98
$1.53฿50.4
126.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.93€2.52
$1.24฿40.97
136.29%
Onion(1kg)
$3.18€2.73
$1.13฿37.22
181.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.25
$0.74฿24.29
97.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.03
$0.50฿16.42
140.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.46€9.85
$4.28฿141
167.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.77€7.53
$17.97฿591
-51.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.42
$1.70฿55.9
65.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69€3.17
$2.90฿95.3
27.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.02
$0.94฿31.00
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.2€49.17
$55.3฿1,820
3.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.62€7.41
$1.23฿40.60
600.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.29€1.97
$0.53฿17.59
332.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.75€37.60
$2.40฿79.0
1722.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.80
$1.44฿47.37
45.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€31.2K
$21.2K฿697.5K
71.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K€31.6K
$27.3K฿898.6K
34.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116€99.3
$64.9฿2,137
77.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.29€13.14
$13.35฿439
14.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.36€28.67
$20.83฿686
60.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.60€29.73
$40.42฿1,330
-14.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69€10.05
$3.95฿130
195.95%
Cinema Ticket
$14.85€12.76
$6.71฿221
121.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$653€561
$787฿25.9K
-17.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.2K
$15.1K฿497.7K
-21.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120€103
$56.2฿1,850
113.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.52€41.69
$24.95฿821
94.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€99.7
$92.7฿3,051
25.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€110
$75.1฿2,472
70.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618€531
$484฿15.9K
27.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470€404
$287฿9,454
63.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,158€995
$910฿29.9K
27.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,155€993
$531฿17.5K
117.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,035€3,467
$1,980฿65.2K
103.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,340€3,729
$1,451฿47.8K
199.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chambery
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿19.9K
-
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 Chambery: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Chambery and $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Chambery vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 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
Chambery vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Chambery?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,554 in Chambery and $1,426 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Chambery and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Chambery versus $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 3% less than in Chambery. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $653 in Chambery versus $787 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Chambery or in Chiang Mai?
At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $1,703 in Chambery, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Chambery. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chambery or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chambery, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chambery or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Chambery 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 79% less than in Chambery. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.