Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Altstätten Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Altstätten

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,472 in Altstätten, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,343 in Altstätten, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,214 in Altstätten, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 75% cheaper than Altstätten, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Altstätten is 158% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$31.06 CHF 24.66

-93.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$144 CHF 114

-86.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$18.18 CHF 14.44

-57.37%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$6.09 CHF 4.84

-68.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ฿25.79

$5.39 CHF 4.28

-85.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$4.73 CHF 3.76

-92.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$8.33 CHF 6.62

-73.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$7.23 CHF 5.74

-49.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.13 CHF 1.69

-22.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.58 CHF 2.84

-54.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$4.14 CHF 3.28

-71.26%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$7.53 CHF 5.98

-73.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$29.23 CHF 23.21

-45.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$32.90 CHF 26.12

-90.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$47.54 CHF 37.74

-77.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.76 CHF 2.99

-26.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.27 CHF 1.80

-48.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.90 CHF 2.30

-43.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$6.14 CHF 4.87

-75.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.42 CHF 1.92

-42.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.45 CHF 1.95

-51.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.59 CHF 2.06

-72.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.31 CHF 1.04

-57.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$11.18 CHF 8.87

-59.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$13.81 CHF 10.96

19.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.44 CHF 1.93

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.22 CHF 2.55

-0.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$3.95 CHF 3.13

-77.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$97.5 CHF 77.4

-80.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$7.69 CHF 6.11

-82.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$4.17 CHF 3.31

-67.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$79.5 CHF 63.2

-90.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.19 CHF 1.74

-43.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$40.6K CHF 32.2K

-46.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$40.9K CHF 32.4K

-44.81%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.5 ฿2,298

$256 CHF 203

-72.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.68 ฿445

$48.37 CHF 38.40

-71.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$57.7 CHF 45.80

-69.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$88.9 CHF 70.6

-53.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$22.76 CHF 18.07

-74.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$307 ฿10.0K

$2,854 CHF 2,266

-89.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$34.8K CHF 27.6K

-58.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$139 CHF 111

-59.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$66.7 CHF 53.0

-60.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$146 CHF 116

-41.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$189 CHF 150

-61.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$1,732 CHF 1,375

-75.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$1,491 CHF 1,184

-83.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$2,863 CHF 2,273

-71.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$2,432 CHF 1,931

-79.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$14.9K CHF 11.8K

-86.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$10.5K CHF 8,351

-85.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

100.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Altstätten: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,732 in Altstätten. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $144 in Altstätten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $658 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Altstätten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Altstätten is pricier by about 300%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,208 in Altstätten. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $869 in Chiang Mai and $3,472 in Altstätten. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 421% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Altstätten at $3,472. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Altstätten it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Altstätten makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.