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 $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,862 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,510 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,864 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 32% below the global median, while Biel is 114% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.7

$29.59 CHF 24.61

-92.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿652

$107 CHF 88.6

-81.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$18.30 CHF 15.22

-70.11%

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.7

$6.17 CHF 5.13

-72.77%

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

$0.66 ฿22.19

$5.01 CHF 4.16

-86.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.56

$4.12 CHF 3.43

-91.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.3

$7.76 CHF 6.46

-68.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿126

$4.89 CHF 4.07

-23.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿69.2

$2.15 CHF 1.79

-4.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿48.98

$3.99 CHF 3.31

-63.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.27

$3.29 CHF 2.74

-58.97%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.3

$7.08 CHF 5.89

-67.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿548

$22.61 CHF 18.80

-27.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.7

$27.65 CHF 22.99

-90.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿309

$38.52 CHF 32.03

-76.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.5

$3.11 CHF 2.58

-23.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.80

$2.03 CHF 1.69

-48.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.49 CHF 2.07

-35.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.57

$3.21 CHF 2.67

-55.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.77

$1.41 CHF 1.18

-7.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.45

$1.76 CHF 1.46

-36.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.65

$1.99 CHF 1.66

-64.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.06

$1.06 CHF 0.88

-51.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿139

$10.63 CHF 8.84

-61.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿598

$14.81 CHF 12.32

20.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.9

$0.92 CHF 0.76

77.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.4

$1.79 CHF 1.48

60.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.88

$4.77 CHF 3.97

-81.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,787

$94.5 CHF 78.6

-43.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.99

$7.86 CHF 6.54

-84.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.89

$4.64 CHF 3.86

-87.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.8

$84.3 CHF 70.1

-97.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.4

$2.21 CHF 1.83

-32.13%

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

$20.9K ฿701.2K

$41.9K CHF 34.8K

-50.23%

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

$26.7K ฿898.8K

$34.0K CHF 28.3K

-21.46%

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

$61.3 ฿2,059

$137 CHF 114

-55.16%

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

$12.50 ฿420

$35.28 CHF 29.34

-64.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿685

$52.0 CHF 43.21

-60.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,275

$74.8 CHF 62.2

-49.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿222

$22.05 CHF 18.34

-70.07%

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

$774 ฿26.0K

$2,615 CHF 2,174

-70.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿485.3K

$37.3K CHF 31.0K

-61.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,842

$106 CHF 88.2

-48.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿849

$40.05 CHF 33.30

-36.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,045

$137 CHF 114

-33.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,463

$213 CHF 177

-65.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

$1,239 CHF 1,030

-62.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,877

$1,126 CHF 936

-73.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.9K

$2,251 CHF 1,872

-59.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.6K

$2,007 CHF 1,669

-72.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.5K

$9,747 CHF 8,106

-80.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.6K

$7,907 CHF 6,575

-81.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.9K

$5,538 CHF 4,605

-89.30%

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: October 5, 2026

Last update for Biel: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $1,239 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 835% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $107 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $544 – 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 216%, 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 $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,293 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 78% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,615 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 $906, than in Biel at $2,862. 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.