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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,380 in Rolle, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,237 in Rolle, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,093 in Rolle, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 72% cheaper than Rolle, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Rolle is 147% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.2
$28.94 CHF 23.87
-92.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿652
$117 CHF 96.8
-83.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$15.89 CHF 13.11
-64.32%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.0
$6.30 CHF 5.20
-71.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.55
$5.26 CHF 4.34
-85.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.48
$4.06 CHF 3.35
-91.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.6
$9.45 CHF 7.79
-76.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$7.87 CHF 6.49
-51.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.1
$2.26 CHF 1.87
-9.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$2.92 CHF 2.41
-48.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.51
$3.32 CHF 2.74
-57.83%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.1
$7.92 CHF 6.53
-71.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿538
$25.15 CHF 20.75
-35.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.3
$30.08 CHF 24.82
-90.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿313
$40.11 CHF 33.09
-76.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.1
$3.73 CHF 3.07
-28.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.23
$2.17 CHF 1.79
-49.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$2.71 CHF 2.24
-40.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.55
$4.52 CHF 3.73
-67.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.48
$1.86 CHF 1.53
-31.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.17
$2.08 CHF 1.72
-49.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.85
$2.33 CHF 1.92
-69.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.49
$1.37 CHF 1.13
-61.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$11.15 CHF 9.20
-62.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿608
$12.22 CHF 10.08
49.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.2
$2.77 CHF 2.29
-41.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.5
$3.30 CHF 2.73
-12.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.20
$4.52 CHF 3.73
-80.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,788
$100 CHF 82.5
-46.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿38.99
$8.23 CHF 6.79
-85.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.22
$4.67 CHF 3.85
-87.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.3
$85.0 CHF 70.1
-97.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.22
$2.37 CHF 1.95
-38.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿698.6K
$44.0K CHF 36.3K
-52.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿878.6K
$40.2K CHF 33.2K
-34.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,116
$276 CHF 228
-76.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$37.95 CHF 31.31
-66.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿682
$56.2 CHF 46.40
-63.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,297
$91.3 CHF 75.3
-57.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
$45.95 CHF 37.91
-91.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$24.44 CHF 20.16
-73.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$2,917 CHF 2,406
-73.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿487.9K
$31.2K CHF 25.7K
-52.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,833
$144 CHF 118
-61.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿823
$62.1 CHF 51.2
-60.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,130
$140 CHF 115
-32.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,459
$196 CHF 162
-62.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
$1,712 CHF 1,412
-71.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,582
$1,634 CHF 1,348
-82.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.6K
$2,933 CHF 2,420
-69.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
$2,508 CHF 2,069
-79.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.6K
$16.1K CHF 13.3K
-87.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.0K
$12.4K CHF 10.3K
-88.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Rolle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
$5,535 CHF 4,567
-89.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
1.95
185.64%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Rolle: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,712 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 820% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $117 in Rolle. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $589 – 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 263% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Rolle?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,071 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,917 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 144% 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 $932, than in Rolle at $3,380. 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 $932 versus $3,380 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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