Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and French Polynesia

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $2,298 in French Polynesia, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
$2,298
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 54.1% cheaper than French Polynesia without rent, and 60.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 59.5% cheaper than French Polynesia without rent, and 60.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$16.98 CFPF 1,808
-87.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$75.6 CFPF 8,051
-74.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$14.22 CFPF 1,515
-61.53%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$4.11 CFPF 438
-59.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$2.68 CFPF 285
-75.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$2.49 CFPF 265
-86.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$4.79 CFPF 510
-49.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$5.62 CFPF 598
-33.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.44 CFPF 153
43.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$4.32 CFPF 460
-66.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.65 CFPF 175
-18.18%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$6.75 CFPF 719
-66.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$35.71 CFPF 3,803
-54.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$15.36 CFPF 1,636
-82.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$24.04 CFPF 2,561
-61.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$5.06 CFPF 538
-52.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$2.80 CFPF 298
-62.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$6.41 CFPF 682
-75.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$7.92 CFPF 844
-81.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$3.09 CFPF 329
-57.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$2.47 CFPF 263
-55.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$3.58 CFPF 381
-80.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$1.21 CFPF 129
-57.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$12.74 CFPF 1,356
-67.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$23.73 CFPF 2,527
-25.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$2.89 CFPF 308
-43.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$3.68 CFPF 392
-22.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$1.93 CFPF 206
-55.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$14.32 CFPF 1,525
271.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$9.27 CFPF 987
-86.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$2.40 CFPF 256
-76.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$23.12 CFPF 2,462
-90.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.44 CFPF 153
4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$18.2K CFPF 1.9M
14.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$29.8K CFPF 3.2M
-10.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$176 CFPF 18.7K
-65.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$18.86 CFPF 2,008
-33.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$70.0 CFPF 7,454
-70.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$73.7 CFPF 7,852
-48.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$13.89 CFPF 1,480
-52.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$466 CFPF 49.6K
66.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$9,438 CFPF 1.0M
52.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$69.8 CFPF 7,435
-21.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$73.1 CFPF 7,781
-65.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$79.4 CFPF 8,453
14.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$88.5 CFPF 9,428
-17.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$1,237 CFPF 131.7K
-62.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$926 CFPF 98.6K
-68.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$1,824 CFPF 194.3K
-49.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$1,531 CFPF 163.1K
-63.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$7,009 CFPF 746.4K
-72.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$9,235 CFPF 983.5K
-84.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$1,893 CFPF 201.6K
-68.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.6
21.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
French Polynesia
$926 215% $632
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
French Polynesia
$567 140% $331
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
French Polynesia
$140 27.4% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
French Polynesia
$264 181% $170
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
French Polynesia
$284 267% $206
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
French Polynesia
$43 28.5% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
French Polynesia
$102 98.6% $50
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
🕒 Local time
18:39 6:39 PM
01:39 1:39 AM
17 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
278,786
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.39 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.38 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai French Polynesia 12,820 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • French Polynesia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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