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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,305 in Schaan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,195 in Schaan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,084 in Schaan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 34% cheaper than Schaan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Schaan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Schaan 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$27.42 CHF 22.17

-92.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$80.7 CHF 65.2

-77.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$14.87 CHF 12.03

-49.70%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$6.67 CHF 5.39

-69.72%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$3.14 CHF 2.54

-72.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$6.31 CHF 5.10

-94.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$4.89 CHF 3.95

-56.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.72 CHF 3.01

-3.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.91 CHF 1.55

-13.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$4.91 CHF 3.97

-68.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$6.03 CHF 4.87

-67.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$29.46 CHF 23.82

-45.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$24.89 CHF 20.12

-87.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$48.42 CHF 39.15

-77.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$8.70 CHF 7.03

-81.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$2.48 CHF 2.01

-77.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.08 CHF 9.77

45.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$2.42 CHF 1.96

-63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$2.53 CHF 2.05

-51.78%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$87.6 CHF 70.8

-19.34%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$33.35 CHF 26.96

-57.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$44.40 CHF 35.90

-60.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$124 CHF 101

-66.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$19.33 CHF 15.63

-69.37%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$1,860 CHF 1,504

-76.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$3,091 CHF 2,499

-73.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$9,825 CHF 7,943

-80.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$6,217 CHF 5,027

-76.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$8,891 CHF 7,189

-93.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Schaan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $1,860 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 1435% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $81.0 in Schaan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $548 – 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 52% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,958 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $1,305 in Schaan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 125% 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 $861, than in Schaan at $1,305. 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 $861 versus $1,305 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.