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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Chiang Mai versus $1,997 in Aurillac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,430 in Chiang Mai versus $3,060 in Aurillac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Chiang Mai versus $4,122 in Aurillac.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 52% less than in Aurillac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 31% below, Aurillac is 45% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$17.37 €14.98
-87.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$70.3 €60.6
-71.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$13.74 €11.84
-57.86%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$4.33 €3.73
-57.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$2.89 €2.49
-73.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$1.83 €1.58
-83.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$8.08 €6.96
-71.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$6.27 €5.41
-40.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$1.62 €1.40
25.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$2.10 €1.81
-23.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$2.77 €2.39
-48.74%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$4.72 €4.07
-53.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$23.87 €20.58
-33.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$13.65 €11.77
-77.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$27.55 €23.75
-64.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$2.36 €2.03
11.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$2.48 €2.13
-55.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$3.48 €3.00
-53.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$3.30 €2.84
-53.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$2.88 €2.48
-56.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$3.01 €2.60
-62.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$1.50 €1.29
-50.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$1.24 €1.07
-59.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$14.55 €12.55
-70.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$8.67 €7.48
107.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$2.94 €2.53
-42.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$3.55 €3.06
-18.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
$1.99 €1.72
-52.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
$50.8 €43.81
8.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$8.69 €7.49
-85.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$2.24 €1.93
-76.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$43.01 €37.08
-94.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$2.32 €2.00
-37.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$35.7K €30.8K
-40.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$36.3K €31.3K
-24.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$274 €236
-76.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$15.03 €12.96
-11.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$32.48 €28.00
-35.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$36.72 €31.65
10.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$15.29 €13.18
-56.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$648 €558
21.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$12.0K €10.3K
26.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$119 €103
-52.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$48.18 €41.53
-48.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$126 €109
-26.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$130 €112
-42.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$797 €687
-39.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$651 €561
-55.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$1,460 €1,258
-37.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$1,151 €993
-53.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
$4,128 €3,558
-52.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
$3,141 €2,708
-53.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
$4,044 €3,486
-85.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.68
51.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aurillac: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $484 in Chiang Mai and $797 in Aurillac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aurillac pays 568% 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $70.0 in Aurillac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $421 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
Chiang Mai vs Aurillac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aurillac cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 110% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Aurillac?
On paper, salaries run 568% lower in Aurillac. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Aurillac?
Rent for a central apartment: $484 in Chiang Mai versus $797 in Aurillac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $787 in Chiang Mai versus $648 in Aurillac. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Aurillac?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Aurillac. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Aurillac?
At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $1,997 in Aurillac, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aurillac. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Aurillac more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aurillac, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Aurillac?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Aurillac 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 110% less than in Aurillac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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