Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kourou

For one person, living is cheaper in Kourou: $174 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Kourou

🇬🇫 French Guiana

$174

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kourou

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Kourou actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $174 in Kourou, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Kourou $174

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $303 in Kourou, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Kourou $303

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $432 in Kourou, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Kourou $432

Chiang Mai costs about 439% more than Kourou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Kourou are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kourou 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$2.00 €1.78

-29.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$6.61 €5.90

-64.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$4.32 €3.85

-44.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$2.27 €2.02

-54.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$7.77 €6.93

-79.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$2.43 €2.17

-48.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$6.90 €6.15

-84.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$2.22 €1.98

-65.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$1.94 €1.73

-73.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

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

$11.60 ฿391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

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

$727 ฿24.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$1,422 €1,268

-66.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kourou: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Kourou

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Kourou

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Kourou

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kourou

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Kourou

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Kourou

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Kourou

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $1,422 in Kourou. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇬🇫 Kourou

🕒 Local time

12:10 12:10 PM

02:10 2:10 AM

10 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

24,903

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Euro EUR €

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 EUR = 1.12 USD

Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.72 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Kourou 15,920 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kourou

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 Kourou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 439% more than Kourou, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $261 in Kourou. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,422 in Kourou.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $174 in Kourou. That makes Kourou about 81% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $174 in Kourou, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $174 in Kourou to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.