Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Olten Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Olten

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,169 in Olten, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,940 in Olten, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,712 in Olten, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 70% cheaper than Olten, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Olten is 131% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$34.18 CHF 27.65

-93.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$123 CHF 99.9

-84.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$17.95 CHF 14.52

-68.52%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$6.59 CHF 5.33

-72.53%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$5.56 CHF 4.50

-87.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$5.52 CHF 4.46

-94.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$9.34 CHF 7.56

-76.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.56 CHF 6.12

-51.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$2.27 CHF 1.83

-13.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$3.99 CHF 3.22

-62.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$3.89 CHF 3.15

-65.55%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$8.76 CHF 7.09

-74.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$25.96 CHF 21.00

-37.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$27.37 CHF 22.14

-89.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$47.48 CHF 38.42

-79.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$4.25 CHF 3.44

-39.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$2.83 CHF 2.29

-62.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$3.07 CHF 2.48

-47.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$4.86 CHF 3.93

-68.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$2.68 CHF 2.17

-52.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$2.22 CHF 1.80

-51.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$2.49 CHF 2.01

-71.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$1.30 CHF 1.05

-60.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$11.06 CHF 8.95

-62.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$13.74 CHF 11.12

30.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.74 CHF 2.22

-38.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$3.16 CHF 2.55

-10.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$5.41 CHF 4.37

-82.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$109 CHF 88.6

-50.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$8.24 CHF 6.67

-85.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$4.80 CHF 3.88

-87.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$90.3 CHF 73.0

-97.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$2.28 CHF 1.85

-38.16%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$40.6K CHF 32.9K

-47.22%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$39.9K CHF 32.3K

-31.47%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$287 CHF 233

-77.85%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$34.09 CHF 27.58

-62.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$49.15 CHF 39.76

-58.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$82.9 CHF 67.1

-53.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$21.24 CHF 17.18

-68.27%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$3,643 CHF 2,947

-78.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$42.8K CHF 34.6K

-65.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$143 CHF 115

-61.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$60.4 CHF 48.88

-57.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$168 CHF 136

-43.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$219 CHF 178

-66.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$1,260 CHF 1,020

-61.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$1,058 CHF 856

-72.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$1,984 CHF 1,605

-54.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$1,954 CHF 1,581

-73.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$4,404 CHF 3,563

-86.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.07

169.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Olten: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,260 in Olten. 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 631% higher in Olten, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Olten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $631 – 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 Olten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Olten costs about 234% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,754 in Olten. 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,643 in Olten. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 162% more in Olten, 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 $947, than in Olten at $3,169. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Olten it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $3,169 in Olten. 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, Olten makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.