Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Saint Pierre Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Saint Pierre

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,052 in Saint Pierre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,720 in Saint Pierre, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,389 in Saint Pierre, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Saint Pierre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Saint Pierre are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Saint Pierre 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$5.97 MUR 279
-64.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$37.75 MUR 1,767
-47.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$7.64 MUR 358
-24.21%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$2.72 MUR 127
-32.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$1.18 MUR 55.3
-33.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$0.62 MUR 29.02
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$2.60 MUR 122
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$4.68 MUR 219
-20.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$1.59 MUR 74.5
27.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$0.79 MUR 36.82
102.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$1.16 MUR 54.2
22.41%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$2.60 MUR 122
-16.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$5.46 MUR 255
191.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$6.27 MUR 293
-51.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$11.16 MUR 522
-11.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$2.84 MUR 133
-7.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$2.67 MUR 125
-58.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$1.38 MUR 64.5
18.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$2.99 MUR 140
-48.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$0.99 MUR 46.34
25.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.94 MUR 43.86
20.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$0.75 MUR 35.19
-1.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.86 MUR 40.13
-41.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$6.34 MUR 297
-32.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$8.52 MUR 399
110.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$1.65 MUR 77.1
3.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$2.39 MUR 112
21.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$4.27 MUR 200
-71.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$3.10 MUR 145
-82.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$21.26 MUR 995
-88.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$1.40 MUR 65.3
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$36.9K MUR 1.7M
-42.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$30.8K MUR 1.4M
-11.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$44.57 MUR 2,086
45.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$10.45 MUR 489
27.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$29.44 MUR 1,378
-29.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$34.95 MUR 1,636
15.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$6.52 MUR 305
2.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$125 MUR 5,845
530.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$7,568 MUR 354.2K
99.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$78.2 MUR 3,661
-28.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$75.0 MUR 3,511
-66.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$121 MUR 5,673
-23.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$77.9 MUR 3,646
-3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$588 MUR 27.5K
-17.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$404 MUR 18.9K
-28.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$1,107 MUR 51.8K
-17.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$837 MUR 39.2K
-36.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.67
-16.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Saint Pierre: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $588 in Saint Pierre. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Saint Pierre. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Saint Pierre – so Saint Pierre wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pierre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Saint Pierre?
Saint Pierre costs about 11% 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 Saint Pierre?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,577 in Saint Pierre. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Saint Pierre?
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 dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Saint Pierre?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Saint Pierre. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Saint Pierre?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Saint Pierre – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Saint Pierre?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Saint Pierre at $1,052. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Pierre it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Saint Pierre?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,052 in Saint Pierre. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Saint Pierre?
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 Saint Pierre?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Pierre makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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