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.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
French Polynesia Living Index114Cost of Living Index in French PolynesiaLearn more
🙂 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.
🍽 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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
French Polynesia $926 39.8% 215% $632
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
French Polynesia $567 24.4% 140% $331
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
French Polynesia $140 6% 27.4% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
French Polynesia $264 11.4% 181% $170
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
French Polynesia $284 12.2% 267% $206
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
French Polynesia $43 1.9% 28.5% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
French Polynesia $102 4.4% 98.6% $50
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
French Polynesia $1.5K 32.7% 178% $979
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
French Polynesia $1.3K 28.1% 148% $785
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
French Polynesia $311 6.6% 27.4% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
French Polynesia $283 6.1% 166% $177
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
French Polynesia $945 20.2% 288% $702
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
French Polynesia $91 1.9% 26.4% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
French Polynesia $203 * 4.3% 91.5% $97
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
Weather
Population
127,240
278,786
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
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
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared
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