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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,916 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,536 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,157 in Biel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 68% cheaper than Biel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 33% below the global median, while Biel is 113% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$31.25 CHF 24.99

-93.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$110 CHF 88.2

-82.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$17.96 CHF 14.36

-67.43%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$6.28 CHF 5.02

-71.97%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$5.10 CHF 4.08

-85.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$4.28 CHF 3.43

-92.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$7.81 CHF 6.24

-68.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$4.92 CHF 3.93

-21.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$2.22 CHF 1.78

-14.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$4.06 CHF 3.25

-58.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$3.43 CHF 2.74

-60.64%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$7.24 CHF 5.79

-70.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$23.22 CHF 18.56

-31.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$26.97 CHF 21.56

-89.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$44.39 CHF 35.49

-76.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$3.22 CHF 2.58

-26.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$2.20 CHF 1.76

-51.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$2.47 CHF 1.97

-38.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$3.29 CHF 2.63

-54.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.50 CHF 1.20

-14.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.90 CHF 1.52

-42.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$2.21 CHF 1.77

-68.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$1.14 CHF 0.91

-57.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$11.05 CHF 8.83

-61.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$15.93 CHF 12.74

5.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.91 CHF 0.73

82.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.84 CHF 1.47

52.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$4.90 CHF 3.92

-81.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$95.0 CHF 76.0

-42.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$8.00 CHF 6.40

-85.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$4.59 CHF 3.67

-88.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$85.1 CHF 68.1

-97.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$2.22 CHF 1.78

-35.59%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$43.1K CHF 34.5K

-51.15%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$35.0K CHF 28.0K

-22.47%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$141 CHF 113

-54.24%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$36.50 CHF 29.18

-63.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$51.7 CHF 41.33

-62.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$76.9 CHF 61.5

-48.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$22.20 CHF 17.75

-70.18%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$2,665 CHF 2,131

-69.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$37.5K CHF 30.0K

-59.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$110 CHF 87.6

-50.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$49.60 CHF 39.66

-48.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$143 CHF 114

-35.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$222 CHF 177

-66.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$1,293 CHF 1,034

-63.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$1,143 CHF 914

-75.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$2,278 CHF 1,822

-60.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$2,045 CHF 1,635

-74.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$9,821 CHF 7,853

-79.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$7,971 CHF 6,373

-81.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$5,625 CHF 4,498

-89.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

1.68

231.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Biel: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $1,293 in Biel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 850% higher in Biel, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $110 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $570 – 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 Biel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Biel is pricier by about 217%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,374 in Biel. 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.

Public transport costs about 73% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,665 in Biel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Biel at $2,916. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Biel 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, Biel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.