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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,824 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,426 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,029 in Solothurn, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 69% cheaper than Solothurn, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Solothurn is 111% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$30.88 CHF 24.35

-93.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$143 CHF 113

-86.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$20.70 CHF 16.32

-62.22%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$6.63 CHF 5.23

-70.59%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$5.61 CHF 4.42

-84.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$5.13 CHF 4.04

-93.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$6.64 CHF 5.24

-67.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$6.24 CHF 4.92

-40.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-24.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.43 CHF 2.70

-52.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$3.39 CHF 2.67

-66.37%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.47 CHF 5.89

-74.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$29.54 CHF 23.29

-45.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$30.76 CHF 24.25

-89.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$38.99 CHF 30.74

-72.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$4.22 CHF 3.33

-34.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.90 CHF 2.28

-58.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.12 CHF 2.46

-48.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$4.34 CHF 3.42

-63.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.93 CHF 1.52

-27.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.02 CHF 1.59

-42.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.50 CHF 1.97

-73.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.06 CHF 0.84

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$11.30 CHF 8.91

-58.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.27 CHF 8.09

81.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.65 CHF 2.09

-32.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.43 CHF 1.92

32.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$3.60 CHF 2.84

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$98.1 CHF 77.4

-80.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$7.67 CHF 6.05

-81.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$4.19 CHF 3.30

-69.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$73.1 CHF 57.6

-89.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.30 CHF 1.82

-44.78%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

-44.39%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$37.8K CHF 29.8K

-41.21%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$100 CHF 78.9

-30.95%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$30.95 CHF 24.40

-54.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$57.8 CHF 45.53

-68.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$74.0 CHF 58.3

-44.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$24.25 CHF 19.12

-71.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$24.39 CHF 19.23

-75.73%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$3,424 CHF 2,700

-91.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$19.8K CHF 15.6K

-24.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$140 CHF 111

-61.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$42.53 CHF 33.53

-37.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$99.3 CHF 78.3

-14.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$188 CHF 148

-62.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,265 CHF 997

-66.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$1,065 CHF 840

-77.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,854 CHF 1,462

-56.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,755 CHF 1,384

-70.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$10.3K CHF 8,088

-80.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$5,092 CHF 4,014

-71.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$7,149 CHF 5,636

-91.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

139.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,265 in Solothurn. 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 1058% higher in Solothurn, 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 $143 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $604 – 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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Solothurn costs about 226% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,236 in Solothurn. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,424 in Solothurn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 145% more in Solothurn, 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 $866, than in Solothurn at $2,824. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solothurn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,824 in Solothurn. 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, Solothurn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.