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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,218 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,962 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,705 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 74% cheaper than Schaffhausen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Schaffhausen is 140% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$30.87 CHF 24.42

-93.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$124 CHF 98.3

-84.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$16.15 CHF 12.78

-50.96%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$5.46 CHF 4.32

-65.02%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$5.36 CHF 4.24

-84.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$4.38 CHF 3.47

-92.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$7.84 CHF 6.20

-71.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$7.25 CHF 5.73

-47.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.89 CHF 1.50

-13.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$3.76 CHF 2.97

-56.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$3.53 CHF 2.79

-66.57%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$7.89 CHF 6.24

-74.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$29.77 CHF 23.55

-46.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$34.92 CHF 27.62

-91.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$52.0 CHF 41.17

-79.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.63 CHF 2.87

-28.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.30 CHF 1.82

-46.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.97 CHF 2.35

-42.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$6.02 CHF 4.76

-73.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.38 CHF 1.88

-44.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.40 CHF 1.89

-51.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$2.66 CHF 2.10

-74.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.27 CHF 1.01

-55.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$11.12 CHF 8.80

-59.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$13.99 CHF 11.06

30.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.38 CHF 1.09

32.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.72 CHF 2.15

18.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$3.95 CHF 3.12

-77.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$84.5 CHF 66.9

-77.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$9.98 CHF 7.89

-86.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$4.04 CHF 3.19

-66.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$60.9 CHF 48.17

-86.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.20 CHF 1.74

-42.27%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$41.0K CHF 32.4K

-48.39%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$41.9K CHF 33.2K

-46.36%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$242 CHF 191

-70.99%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$28.98 CHF 22.92

-52.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$43.55 CHF 34.45

-59.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$108 CHF 85.8

-61.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$46.70 CHF 36.94

-85.87%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$22.33 CHF 17.67

-74.12%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$3,279 CHF 2,593

-90.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$42.1K CHF 33.3K

-64.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$115 CHF 91.1

-52.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$68.9 CHF 54.5

-62.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$134 CHF 106

-36.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$153 CHF 121

-54.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$1,201 CHF 950

-64.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$1,241 CHF 982

-80.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$2,731 CHF 2,160

-69.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$2,151 CHF 1,701

-76.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$8,618 CHF 6,817

-76.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$6,757 CHF 5,344

-77.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$9,429 CHF 7,458

-93.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

100.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,201 in Schaffhausen. 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 1384% higher in Schaffhausen, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Schaffhausen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $674 – 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 Schaffhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Schaffhausen costs about 278% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,827 in Schaffhausen. 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.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,279 in Schaffhausen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 177% more in Schaffhausen, 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 $852, than in Schaffhausen at $3,218. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schaffhausen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,218 in Schaffhausen. 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, Schaffhausen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.