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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,299 in Schaan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,208 in Schaan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,117 in Schaan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Schaan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Schaan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Schaan 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$28.09 CHF 22.93

-92.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$87.7 CHF 71.6

-77.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$14.68 CHF 11.98

-60.56%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$6.60 CHF 5.38

-72.27%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$3.01 CHF 2.46

-74.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$6.02 CHF 4.92

-94.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$4.94 CHF 4.03

-52.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.78 CHF 3.08

-2.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.94 CHF 1.58

4.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$5.02 CHF 4.10

-68.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$5.99 CHF 4.89

-63.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$29.21 CHF 23.84

-45.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$24.66 CHF 20.12

-87.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$49.49 CHF 40.39

-80.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$8.85 CHF 7.23

-82.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$2.42 CHF 1.98

-79.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$12.25 CHF 10.00

46.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$2.48 CHF 2.03

-62.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$2.45 CHF 2.00

-41.22%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$88.1 CHF 71.9

-26.32%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$33.26 CHF 27.15

-59.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$44.24 CHF 36.11

-52.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$122 CHF 99.6

-66.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$19.83 CHF 16.18

-66.16%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$1,848 CHF 1,508

-73.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$3,075 CHF 2,509

-70.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$10.0K CHF 8,186

-80.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$6,223 CHF 5,079

-76.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$8,726 CHF 7,121

-93.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

39.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Schaan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $1,848 in Schaan. 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 1342% higher in Schaan, 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 $88.0 in Schaan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $551 – 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 Schaan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Schaan costs about 37% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,949 in Schaan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $1,299 in Schaan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 127% more in Schaan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Schaan at $1,299. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schaan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,299 in Schaan. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Schaan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.