Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Agno

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $3,407 in Agno, rent and utilities included – about $29,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Agno, Switzerland
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Agno
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,407
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Chiang Mai versus $3,407 in Agno.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Agno $3,407

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,457 in Chiang Mai versus $5,260 in Agno.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Agno $5,260

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,979 in Chiang Mai versus $7,114 in Agno.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Agno $7,114

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 73% less than in Agno, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 31% below, Agno is 150% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.7
$34.40 CHF 28.51
-93.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿642
$148 CHF 123
-87.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿188
$19.41 CHF 16.09
-71.41%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.6
$4.72 CHF 3.91
-64.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.56
$5.30 CHF 4.39
-87.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$4.31 CHF 3.57
-92.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$9.50 CHF 7.87
-75.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$7.37 CHF 6.11
-50.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$2.23 CHF 1.84
-12.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$3.68 CHF 3.05
-60.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.07
$3.85 CHF 3.19
-65.45%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$7.15 CHF 5.93
-68.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿556
$25.72 CHF 21.32
-36.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$28.07 CHF 23.27
-90.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$40.87 CHF 33.88
-77.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.5
$3.20 CHF 2.65
-26.56%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.82
$1.64 CHF 1.36
-40.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.55 CHF 2.11
-37.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$4.61 CHF 3.82
-67.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.15
$1.78 CHF 1.47
-28.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.22
$2.10 CHF 1.74
-47.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.84
$2.43 CHF 2.01
-70.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.38
$1.24 CHF 1.02
-60.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$10.91 CHF 9.05
-62.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿592
$13.74 CHF 11.39
27.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.80 CHF 2.32
-42.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.22 CHF 2.67
-13.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.33
$4.19 CHF 3.48
-79.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,827
$101 CHF 83.5
-46.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.08
$7.73 CHF 6.41
-84.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.82
$4.62 CHF 3.83
-88.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$77.1 CHF 63.9
-96.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$2.26 CHF 1.87
-35.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿711.2K
$39.4K CHF 32.7K
-46.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.8K
$38.6K CHF 32.0K
-30.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,100
$279 CHF 231
-77.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$24.77 CHF 20.53
-50.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿680
$49.82 CHF 41.29
-59.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,260
$89.9 CHF 74.5
-58.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$45.52 CHF 37.73
-91.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$21.42 CHF 17.75
-69.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.9K
$3,266 CHF 2,707
-77.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.6K
$39.0K CHF 32.3K
-62.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,802
$108 CHF 89.6
-50.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿832
$49.31 CHF 40.87
-50.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,089
$166 CHF 137
-44.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,429
$168 CHF 139
-57.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,795 CHF 1,488
-73.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$1,477 CHF 1,224
-79.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿34.0K
$2,993 CHF 2,481
-66.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$2,513 CHF 2,083
-74.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$16.8K CHF 13.9K
-85.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.7K
$12.2K CHF 10.1K
-86.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Agno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.07
169.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Agno: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Agno
$1.5K 378% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Agno
$584 149% $350
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Agno
$221 103% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Agno
$353 274% $259
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Agno
$491 533% $413
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Agno
$148 142% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Agno
$133 164% $82

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Chiang Mai and $1,795 in Agno. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19 in Chiang Mai vs $148 in Agno for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $584 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇭 Agno
🕒 Local time
21:07 9:07 PM
15:07 3:07 PM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
4,200
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.829 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.923 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Agno 8,520 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Agno

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
Chiang Mai vs Agno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Agno?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 264% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,403 in Chiang Mai and $5,110 in Agno 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 Chiang Mai and Agno?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,795 in Agno. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Agno?
Supermarket bills run roughly 149% higher in Agno. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or in Agno?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19 versus $148 in Agno. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Chiang Mai or in Agno?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Chiang Mai is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Chiang Mai or in Agno?
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.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Agno?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Agno 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 73% less than in Agno. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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