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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,581 in Rolle, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,431 in Rolle, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,282 in Rolle, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 76% cheaper than Rolle, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Rolle is 169% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ฿68.2
$31.21 CHF 25.19
-93.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71 ฿624
$146 CHF 118
-87.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.86 ฿262
$19.14 CHF 15.45
-58.93%
Cappuccino
$2.03 ฿67.7
$6.10 CHF 4.92
-66.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ฿26.64
$5.46 CHF 4.40
-85.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.68
$4.87 CHF 3.93
-92.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.5
$9.59 CHF 7.74
-77.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿122
$7.56 CHF 6.10
-51.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.6
$2.21 CHF 1.78
-21.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$3.79 CHF 3.06
-58.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 ฿39.99
$4.31 CHF 3.48
-72.16%
Eggs
$1.97 ฿65.8
$7.77 CHF 6.27
-74.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.23 ฿541
$27.06 CHF 21.84
-40.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 ฿102
$34.81 CHF 28.09
-91.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 ฿360
$52.8 CHF 42.60
-79.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ฿92.3
$3.66 CHF 2.95
-24.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.94
$2.13 CHF 1.72
-45.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿57.0
$2.84 CHF 2.29
-39.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿53.2
$6.42 CHF 5.18
-75.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.51
$3.28 CHF 2.65
-57.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 ฿38.56
$2.40 CHF 1.93
-51.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿22.05
$2.55 CHF 2.06
-74.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.31
$1.47 CHF 1.19
-64.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65 ฿155
$11.06 CHF 8.92
-57.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿593
$12.33 CHF 9.95
44.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿59.6
$2.42 CHF 1.95
-26.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ฿111
$3.27 CHF 2.64
2.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ฿30.27
$3.89 CHF 3.14
-76.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.64 ฿622
$100 CHF 81.0
-81.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿47.04
$8.20 CHF 6.61
-82.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.70
$3.43 CHF 2.77
-60.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.11 ฿270
$67.1 CHF 54.1
-87.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿41.16
$2.24 CHF 1.81
-45.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿715.1K
$40.2K CHF 32.4K
-46.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿728.0K
$41.7K CHF 33.6K
-47.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.3 ฿2,379
$301 CHF 243
-76.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01 ฿467
$53.6 CHF 43.23
-73.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93 ฿598
$60.3 CHF 48.63
-70.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.82 ฿1,362
$87.3 CHF 70.4
-53.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿230
$46.69 CHF 37.68
-85.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 ฿191
$22.68 CHF 18.30
-74.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿10.3K
$2,810 CHF 2,267
-89.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.7K
$34.6K CHF 28.0K
-57.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,860
$131 CHF 106
-57.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04 ฿869
$70.2 CHF 56.7
-62.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 ฿2,829
$151 CHF 122
-43.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0 ฿2,368
$186 CHF 150
-61.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$423 ฿14.1K
$1,725 CHF 1,392
-75.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 ฿8,088
$1,476 CHF 1,191
-83.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$2,837 CHF 2,289
-71.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$507 ฿16.9K
$2,443 CHF 1,972
-79.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,918 ฿64.0K
$14.7K CHF 11.8K
-86.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,464 ฿48.8K
$12.0K CHF 9,677
-87.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$5,505 CHF 4,442
-89.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
2.5
100.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Rolle: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $1,725 in Rolle. 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 825% higher in Rolle, 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 $146 in Rolle. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $682 – 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 Rolle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Rolle?
Rolle costs about 320% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Rolle?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,371 in Rolle. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Rolle?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Rolle?
Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,810 in Rolle. 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 Rolle?
Groceries cost about 179% more in Rolle, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Rolle?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Rolle at $3,581. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rolle it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Rolle?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,581 in Rolle. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Rolle?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Rolle?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rolle makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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