ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $845 in Chiang Mai versus $2,012 in Aurillac.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Chiang Mai versus $3,060 in Aurillac.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Chiang Mai versus $4,108 in Aurillac.
ðLiving in Chiang Mai costs roughly 58% less than in Aurillac, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 37% below, Aurillac is 50% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95āļŋ62.8
$17.28âŽ14.74
-88.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43āļŋ594
$75.9âŽ64.7
-75.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50āļŋ241
$12.66âŽ10.80
-40.76%
Cappuccino
$1.93āļŋ62.3
$4.00âŽ3.41
-51.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78āļŋ25.08
$2.95âŽ2.51
-73.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32āļŋ10.42
$1.77âŽ1.51
-81.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15āļŋ69.2
$8.26âŽ7.05
-73.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71āļŋ120
$6.79âŽ5.79
-45.36%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71āļŋ55.2
$1.47âŽ1.25
16.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56āļŋ50.3
$2.56âŽ2.19
-39.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.06
$2.53âŽ2.16
-53.36%
Eggs
$1.98āļŋ63.9
$4.13âŽ3.52
-52.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04āļŋ517
$24.47âŽ20.87
-34.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17āļŋ102
$15.92âŽ13.58
-80.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94āļŋ353
$25.51âŽ21.76
-57.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63āļŋ84.7
$2.79âŽ2.38
-5.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ37.61
$2.57âŽ2.19
-54.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.0
$3.62âŽ3.09
-54.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54āļŋ49.51
$3.92âŽ3.34
-60.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38āļŋ44.34
$2.78âŽ2.37
-50.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ37.54
$2.86âŽ2.44
-59.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66āļŋ21.25
$1.48âŽ1.26
-55.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.55
$0.87âŽ0.74
-41.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52āļŋ146
$13.91âŽ11.87
-67.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32āļŋ590
$8.70âŽ7.42
110.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ57.9
$3.20âŽ2.73
-43.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18āļŋ102
$3.13âŽ2.67
1.60%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90āļŋ28.97
$1.91âŽ1.63
-52.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00āļŋ612
$49.36âŽ42.10
-61.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41āļŋ45.50
$5.82âŽ4.97
-75.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31āļŋ42.15
$1.85âŽ1.58
-29.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09āļŋ261
$58.4âŽ49.84
-86.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28āļŋ41.08
$2.04âŽ1.74
-37.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kāļŋ686.1K
$37.2KâŽ31.7K
-42.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7Kāļŋ699.3K
$37.4KâŽ31.9K
-42.01%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2āļŋ2,230
$286âŽ244
-75.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97āļŋ450
$22.53âŽ19.21
-37.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95āļŋ578
$36.69âŽ31.30
-51.08%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31āļŋ1,363
$38.05âŽ32.45
11.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66āļŋ214
$18.51âŽ15.79
-64.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92āļŋ191
$13.90âŽ11.86
-57.41%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299āļŋ9,640
$753âŽ643
-60.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ478.4K
$12.0KâŽ10.2K
23.77%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2āļŋ1,810
$111âŽ94.5
-49.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94āļŋ868
$51.1âŽ43.60
-47.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9āļŋ2,735
$122âŽ104
-30.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8āļŋ2,314
$166âŽ142
-56.73%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435āļŋ14.0K
$770âŽ657
-43.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240āļŋ7,727
$627âŽ535
-61.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798āļŋ25.7K
$1,414âŽ1,206
-43.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498āļŋ16.1K
$1,098âŽ937
-54.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995āļŋ64.3K
$4,249âŽ3,624
-53.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532āļŋ49.4K
$3,086âŽ2,632
-50.36%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Aurillac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628āļŋ20.2K
$4,183âŽ3,568
-84.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
3.76
32.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Aurillac: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Chiang Mai and $770 in Aurillac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Aurillac pays 566% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $18 in Chiang Mai vs $76 in Aurillac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $430 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 138% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Aurillac?
On paper, Aurillac earns 566% less. 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: $435 in Chiang Mai versus $770 in Aurillac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $753 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 Aurillac?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Aurillac. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Aurillac?
At $845 in Chiang Mai versus $2,012 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 â expenses run 138% less than in Aurillac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared