Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Saint-Louis Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Saint-Louis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $778 in Saint-Louis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,264 in Saint-Louis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,750 in Saint-Louis, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Saint-Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Saint-Louis are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Saint-Louis 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.45 F CFA 1,945

-43.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$53.5 F CFA 30.2K

-65.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.42 F CFA 5,883

-24.95%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.51 F CFA 2,546

-56.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.84 F CFA 475

1.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.05 F CFA 595

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.80 F CFA 1,018

18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.28 F CFA 2,418

-12.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.57 F CFA 1,451

-33.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.27 F CFA 153

503.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.62 F CFA 913

-29.63%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.60 F CFA 1,465

-25.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$12.60 F CFA 7,113

28.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$9.22 F CFA 5,202

-66.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.95 F CFA 6,182

-0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.82 F CFA 1,593

-2.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.00 F CFA 1,127

-39.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.60 F CFA 1,470

-37.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.06 F CFA 1,165

-22.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.55 F CFA 875

-9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.34 F CFA 756

-12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.02 F CFA 573

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.72 F CFA 408

-26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.64 F CFA 923

185.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$15.33 F CFA 8,651

21.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.17 F CFA 661

53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.24 F CFA 1,267

44.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.91 F CFA 514

54.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$2.78 F CFA 1,571

-53.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.72 F CFA 10.0K

-55.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.73 F CFA 974

-26.59%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$36.0K F CFA 20.3M

-40.88%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$49.7K F CFA 28.1M

-55.33%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$140 F CFA 79.2K

-50.78%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.67 F CFA 5,458

45.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$50.6 F CFA 28.6K

-64.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.93 F CFA 5,043

-33.71%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$265 F CFA 149.7K

12.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$7,357 F CFA 4.2M

103.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$69.5 F CFA 39.2K

-21.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$44.04 F CFA 24.9K

-39.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$103 F CFA 58.2K

-17.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$130 F CFA 73.2K

-45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$443 F CFA 249.9K

-3.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

-39.39%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Saint-Louis: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $443 in Saint-Louis. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Saint-Louis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $270 – 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 Saint-Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Saint-Louis, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,167 in Saint-Louis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint-Louis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $53.0 in Saint-Louis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint-Louis, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Chiang Mai at $866. In Saint-Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint-Louis costs $778 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Saint-Louis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.