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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,096 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,763 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,429 in Biel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 72% cheaper than Biel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Biel is 131% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$24.71 CHF 19.54

-92.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$113 CHF 89.3

-83.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$16.03 CHF 12.68

-50.59%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$6.33 CHF 5.01

-69.83%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$5.32 CHF 4.21

-84.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$5.06 CHF 4.00

-93.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$7.79 CHF 6.16

-71.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$6.87 CHF 5.43

-44.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.25 CHF 1.78

-27.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$3.72 CHF 2.94

-56.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$4.28 CHF 3.38

-72.43%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$7.51 CHF 5.94

-73.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$30.27 CHF 23.95

-47.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$35.98 CHF 28.46

-91.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$50.9 CHF 40.22

-78.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.28 CHF 2.59

-20.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.31 CHF 1.83

-47.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.98 CHF 2.36

-42.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$4.35 CHF 3.44

-63.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.49 CHF 1.97

-46.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.39 CHF 1.89

-51.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$2.67 CHF 2.11

-74.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.89 CHF 0.70

-37.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$11.12 CHF 8.80

-59.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$12.63 CHF 9.99

44.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.40 CHF 1.90

-23.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.32 CHF 2.63

-2.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$4.47 CHF 3.53

-80.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$109 CHF 86.3

-82.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$12.54 CHF 9.92

-89.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$4.05 CHF 3.20

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$82.4 CHF 65.2

-89.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.15 CHF 1.70

-40.93%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$31.3K CHF 24.8K

-32.48%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$28.5K CHF 22.5K

-21.08%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$244 CHF 193

-71.26%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$36.50 CHF 28.87

-62.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$55.6 CHF 43.97

-68.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$114 CHF 90.3

-63.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$73.2 CHF 57.9

-90.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$21.76 CHF 17.21

-73.44%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$2,865 CHF 2,266

-89.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$42.2K CHF 33.4K

-64.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$141 CHF 111

-61.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$45.49 CHF 35.98

-42.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$131 CHF 104

-35.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$159 CHF 126

-56.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$1,298 CHF 1,027

-67.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$1,126 CHF 890

-78.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$2,273 CHF 1,798

-63.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,871 CHF 1,480

-72.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$9,986 CHF 7,899

-79.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$8,438 CHF 6,674

-81.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$7,974 CHF 6,307

-92.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.88

165.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Biel: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,298 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 1155% 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 $113 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $672 – 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 263%, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,644 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 463% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,865 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 $852, than in Biel at $3,096. 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.