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 $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,772 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,442 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,112 in Solothurn, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 66% cheaper than Solothurn, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 30% below the global median, while Solothurn is 106% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$30.06 CHF 24.90

-93.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿664

$144 CHF 119

-86.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿186

$18.29 CHF 15.15

-69.49%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.0

$6.85 CHF 5.68

-74.60%

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

$0.72 ฿24.01

$5.38 CHF 4.46

-86.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.67

$5.19 CHF 4.30

-93.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.1

$6.73 CHF 5.58

-66.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿127

$6.05 CHF 5.01

-37.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$2.20 CHF 1.82

-8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$3.85 CHF 3.19

-59.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.58

$3.58 CHF 2.97

-60.89%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.8

$8.43 CHF 6.98

-74.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿522

$22.67 CHF 18.77

-31.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.3

$26.03 CHF 21.56

-88.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿317

$60.9 CHF 50.4

-84.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.9

$2.90 CHF 2.40

-10.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.08

$1.49 CHF 1.23

-27.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.1

$3.58 CHF 2.97

-55.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.47

$4.36 CHF 3.61

-66.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.60

$1.64 CHF 1.36

-21.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.07

$1.76 CHF 1.46

-36.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.23

$1.62 CHF 1.34

-54.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.67

$1.02 CHF 0.85

-50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$11.00 CHF 9.11

-61.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿590

$13.32 CHF 11.03

32.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$2.74 CHF 2.27

-38.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.5

$3.26 CHF 2.70

-14.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.87

$4.89 CHF 4.05

-82.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,808

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.47

$8.10 CHF 6.71

-85.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.98

$4.59 CHF 3.81

-88.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$90.9 CHF 75.3

-97.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.84

$2.25 CHF 1.87

-35.11%

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

$21.0K ฿701.2K

$30.1K CHF 24.9K

-30.14%

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

$26.7K ฿890.8K

$35.7K CHF 29.6K

-25.28%

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

$62.1 ฿2,071

$96.3 CHF 79.7

-35.51%

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

$12.93 ฿431

$30.73 CHF 25.45

-57.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿688

$57.8 CHF 47.86

-64.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,308

$91.6 CHF 75.9

-57.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

$16.88 CHF 13.98

-77.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿217

$18.40 CHF 15.24

-64.57%

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

$803 ฿26.8K

$3,596 CHF 2,979

-77.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿490.4K

$19.3K CHF 16.0K

-23.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,864

$146 CHF 121

-61.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿851

$42.52 CHF 35.22

-40.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,039

$164 CHF 136

-44.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,446

$262 CHF 217

-72.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.1K

$1,177 CHF 975

-58.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,617

$1,061 CHF 879

-72.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.5K

$1,792 CHF 1,484

-50.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$1,787 CHF 1,480

-70.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.4K

$9,748 CHF 8,074

-79.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.1K

$4,792 CHF 3,969

-69.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.1K

$7,001 CHF 5,799

-91.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.07

169.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $1,177 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 1061% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $144 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $623 – 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 194% 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 $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,158 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $144 in Solothurn. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 162% 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 $942, than in Solothurn at $2,772. 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 $942 versus $2,772 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.