🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $2,330 in Bregenz.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $3,497 in Bregenz.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $4,664 in Bregenz.
🙂Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 63% less than in Bregenz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Bregenz is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$18.72€16.03
-89.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$82.2€70.3
-77.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$11.78€10.09
-32.77%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$4.25€3.64
-55.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$3.68€3.15
-77.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$3.22€2.75
-89.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$4.88€4.18
-54.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$4.57€3.91
-16.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.71€1.46
-4.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$3.03€2.59
-46.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$2.15€1.84
-45.12%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$4.41€3.78
-54.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$16.72€14.31
-4.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$13.65€11.69
-77.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$20.96€17.95
-48.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$3.03€2.60
-13.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$2.06€1.76
-40.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$2.34€2.00
-27.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$3.42€2.93
-53.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$1.98€1.69
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$1.83€1.57
-36.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$1.79€1.53
-62.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.71€0.61
-21.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$7.13€6.10
-36.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$7.98€6.83
128.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.31€1.12
39.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.59€1.36
103.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$2.99€2.56
-70.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$45.38€38.84
-57.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$9.64€8.26
-86.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$2.05€1.76
-34.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$34.84€29.82
-76.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.72€1.48
-26.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$29.2K€25.0K
-27.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$35.4K€30.3K
-36.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$414€354
-83.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$22.78€19.50
-39.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$34.08€29.17
-48.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$63.4€54.3
-34.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$26.29€22.50
-74.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$14.22€12.17
-59.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$912€781
-66.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$7,084€6,064
109.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$46.90€40.14
15.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$26.23€22.46
-0.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$63.0€53.9
34.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$140€120
-50.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$1,054€902
-59.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$853€730
-72.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$1,772€1,517
-53.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$1,574€1,348
-67.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$5,413€4,633
-62.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$4,453€3,812
-65.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bregenz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$2,383€2,040
-73.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
3.75
33.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bregenz: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $1,054 in Bregenz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bregenz pays 275% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $82.0 in Bregenz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $360 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 Bregenz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chiang Mai and Bregenz?
Chiang Mai and Bregenz differ by about 173% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $2,330 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Bregenz earns 275% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Mai and Bregenz?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,054 in Bregenz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $82.0 in Bregenz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Bregenz?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $2,330 in Bregenz – a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $2,330 in Bregenz, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bregenz. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Bregenz?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Chiang Mai or Bregenz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bregenz are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Chiang Mai or Bregenz?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Bregenz. 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