Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mulhouse

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,765 in Mulhouse, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Mulhouse, France
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Mulhouse
🇫🇷 France
$1,765
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Mulhouse actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,765 in Mulhouse, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Mulhouse $1,765

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,829 in Mulhouse, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Mulhouse $2,829

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,892 in Mulhouse, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Mulhouse $3,892

Chiang Mai is about 47% cheaper than Mulhouse, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Mulhouse is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$22.76 €20.39
-90.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$76.2 €68.3
-75.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$11.39 €10.20
-51.27%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$3.39 €3.04
-50.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$3.11 €2.79
-79.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$1.98 €1.77
-84.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$4.38 €3.92
-46.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$3.90 €3.49
-6.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.32 €1.19
47.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$2.18 €1.95
-33.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$2.51 €2.25
-47.01%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$3.86 €3.46
-40.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$13.43 €12.03
22.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$13.45 €12.05
-79.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$20.97 €18.79
-55.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$3.58 €3.21
-34.36%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$2.28 €2.04
-57.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$4.55 €4.08
-64.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$6.10 €5.46
-75.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$3.19 €2.86
-59.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$2.21 €1.98
-50.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$1.91 €1.71
-62.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.98 €0.88
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$12.27 €11.00
-66.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$7.75 €6.94
126.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$3.06 €2.75
-47.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.44 €3.08
-19.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$1.83 €1.64
-52.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$49.43 €44.30
9.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$3.42 €3.07
-66.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$3.38 €3.03
-84.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$27.73 €24.85
-91.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.98 €1.77
-26.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$36.0K €32.2K
-41.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$37.5K €33.6K
-28.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$245 €220
-74.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$31.98 €28.65
-61.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$32.47 €29.10
-38.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$43.12 €38.64
-13.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$45.45 €40.73
-91.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$11.79 €10.57
-44.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$710 €637
3.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$8,415 €7,541
75.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$65.0 €58.3
-17.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$38.76 €34.73
-36.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$88.9 €79.7
2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$138 €123
-47.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$581 €521
-17.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$474 €425
-34.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,158 €1,037
-13.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$976 €874
-35.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$2,377 €2,130
-0.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,648 €1,477
-3.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mulhouse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$2,164 €1,940
-72.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.56
56.46%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mulhouse: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Mulhouse
$474 53.5% $165
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Mulhouse
$382 63.1% $148
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Mulhouse
$149 36.9% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Mulhouse
$310 228% $215
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Mulhouse
$307 296% $229
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Mulhouse
$77 25.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Mulhouse
$67 32.7% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $581 in Mulhouse. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Mulhouse are about 3.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $76 in Mulhouse. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $382 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇫🇷 Mulhouse
🕒 Local time
10:24 10:24 AM
04:24 4:24 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
106,341
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Mulhouse 8,590 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Mulhouse

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 Mulhouse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Mulhouse?
Mulhouse costs about 89% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Mulhouse?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,648 in Mulhouse. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Mulhouse?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $581 in Mulhouse.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Mulhouse?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $710 in Mulhouse. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Mulhouse?
Groceries cost about 63% more in Mulhouse, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Mulhouse?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,765 in Mulhouse. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Mulhouse?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,765 in Mulhouse. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Mulhouse?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Mulhouse?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mulhouse makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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