🙂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 Mai31% lower, Saint Pierre24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10฿69.3
$5.97MUR 279
-64.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84฿656
$37.75MUR 1,767
-47.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79฿191
$7.64MUR 358
-24.21%
Cappuccino
$1.83฿60.4
$2.72MUR 127
-32.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.61
$1.18MUR 55.3
-33.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31฿10.37
$0.62MUR 29.02
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34฿77.2
$2.60MUR 122
-10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70฿122
$4.68MUR 219
-20.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03฿67.1
$1.59MUR 74.5
27.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60฿52.7
$0.79MUR 36.82
102.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42฿46.75
$1.16MUR 54.2
22.41%
Eggs
$2.18฿71.9
$2.60MUR 122
-16.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.91฿526
$5.46MUR 255
191.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07฿102
$6.27MUR 293
-51.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87฿326
$11.16MUR 522
-11.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿86.8
$2.84MUR 133
-7.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10฿36.19
$2.67MUR 125
-58.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿53.8
$1.38MUR 64.5
18.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.6
$2.99MUR 140
-48.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24฿41.13
$0.99MUR 46.34
25.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13฿37.37
$0.94MUR 43.86
20.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74฿24.38
$0.75MUR 35.19
-1.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50฿16.48
$0.86MUR 40.13
-41.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28฿141
$6.34MUR 297
-32.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.97฿594
$8.52MUR 399
110.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70฿56.1
$1.65MUR 77.1
3.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿95.7
$2.39MUR 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
$4.27MUR 200
-71.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53฿17.66
$3.10MUR 145
-82.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.40฿79.3
$21.26MUR 995
-88.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44฿47.55
$1.40MUR 65.3
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿700.2K
$36.9KMUR 1.7M
-42.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿902.1K
$30.8KMUR 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
$44.57MUR 2,086
45.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35฿441
$10.45MUR 489
27.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83฿688
$29.44MUR 1,378
-29.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42฿1,336
$34.95MUR 1,636
15.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71฿222
$6.52MUR 305
2.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$787฿26.0K
$125MUR 5,845
530.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K฿499.6K
$7,568MUR 354.2K
99.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,858
$78.2MUR 3,661
-28.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95฿824
$75.0MUR 3,511
-66.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7฿3,063
$121MUR 5,673
-23.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1฿2,482
$77.9MUR 3,646
-3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Saint Pierre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484฿16.0K
$588MUR 27.5K
-17.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287฿9,491
$404MUR 18.9K
-28.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910฿30.1K
$1,107MUR 51.8K
-17.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531฿17.5K
$837MUR 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared