Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and La Chaux-de-Fonds Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and La Chaux-de-Fonds

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,146 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,070 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,994 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 73% cheaper than La Chaux-de-Fonds, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while La Chaux-de-Fonds is 135% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$24.77 CHF 19.60

-92.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$87.6 CHF 69.3

-78.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$18.38 CHF 14.54

-56.91%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$4.77 CHF 3.77

-59.96%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$3.66 CHF 2.89

-77.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$4.75 CHF 3.76

-92.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$7.48 CHF 5.91

-70.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$6.05 CHF 4.78

-37.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.31 CHF 1.82

-29.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$3.89 CHF 3.08

-58.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$4.35 CHF 3.44

-72.87%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$7.43 CHF 5.88

-72.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$27.34 CHF 21.63

-41.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$32.67 CHF 25.84

-90.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$52.8 CHF 41.79

-79.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.42 CHF 2.71

-23.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.49 CHF 1.97

-51.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.93 CHF 2.32

-41.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$6.49 CHF 5.13

-75.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.64 CHF 2.09

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.35 CHF 1.86

-50.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$2.61 CHF 2.07

-74.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.37 CHF 1.08

-59.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$11.17 CHF 8.84

-59.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$12.89 CHF 10.20

41.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.39 CHF 1.89

-23.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.76 CHF 2.98

-14.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$3.16 CHF 2.50

-71.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$162 CHF 128

-88.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$7.78 CHF 6.16

-82.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$3.49 CHF 2.76

-61.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$64.2 CHF 50.8

-87.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.31 CHF 1.83

-45.02%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$40.6K CHF 32.1K

-47.85%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$48.6K CHF 38.4K

-53.69%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$256 CHF 203

-72.61%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$47.90 CHF 37.89

-71.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$62.5 CHF 49.40

-71.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$75.3 CHF 59.6

-44.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$24.33 CHF 19.25

-76.24%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$3,041 CHF 2,405

-89.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$20.9K CHF 16.5K

-29.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$135 CHF 107

-59.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$78.7 CHF 62.3

-66.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$162 CHF 128

-47.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$213 CHF 169

-67.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$1,452 CHF 1,149

-70.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$1,105 CHF 874

-78.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$3,975 CHF 3,144

-79.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$2,412 CHF 1,908

-78.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$16.1K CHF 12.8K

-87.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$9,773 CHF 7,730

-84.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$5,303 CHF 4,195

-88.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.46

103.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,452 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. 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 735% higher in La Chaux-de-Fonds, 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 $88.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $674 – 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 La Chaux-de-Fonds: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Chaux-de-Fonds costs about 269% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,719 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. 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.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,041 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 177% more in La Chaux-de-Fonds, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in La Chaux-de-Fonds at $3,146. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Chaux-de-Fonds it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,146 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, La Chaux-de-Fonds makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.