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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,334 in Stabio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,226 in Stabio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,118 in Stabio, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Stabio is 148% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿65.0
$31.01 CHF 24.78
-93.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿619
$169 CHF 135
-88.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿255
$18.32 CHF 14.65
-57.70%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿63.2
$4.25 CHF 3.40
-54.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿26.07
$4.89 CHF 3.91
-83.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.74
$4.09 CHF 3.27
-91.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.9
$7.31 CHF 5.84
-69.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿120
$7.36 CHF 5.89
-50.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿54.4
$2.24 CHF 1.79
-26.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.7
$3.62 CHF 2.89
-54.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.28
$4.68 CHF 3.74
-74.57%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.8
$6.74 CHF 5.38
-70.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿526
$26.95 CHF 21.54
-40.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$35.36 CHF 28.26
-91.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿357
$45.05 CHF 36.01
-75.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.9
$3.19 CHF 2.55
-13.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.83
$1.94 CHF 1.55
-39.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.0
$2.50 CHF 2.00
-34.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.0
$7.34 CHF 5.87
-79.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.59
$2.27 CHF 1.81
-39.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.25
$2.30 CHF 1.84
-48.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.11
$2.52 CHF 2.02
-72.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$1.26 CHF 1.01
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿151
$10.41 CHF 8.32
-56.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿545
$12.74 CHF 10.18
29.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.2
$2.57 CHF 2.05
-28.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿105
$4.22 CHF 3.38
-24.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.87
$3.83 CHF 3.06
-77.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿616
$97.2 CHF 77.7
-80.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$6.70 CHF 5.35
-79.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.12
$4.56 CHF 3.65
-70.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿258
$61.0 CHF 48.75
-87.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿40.35
$2.15 CHF 1.72
-42.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿711.8K
$41.1K CHF 32.9K
-47.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿742.2K
$37.3K CHF 29.8K
-39.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,322
$205 CHF 164
-65.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿450
$67.8 CHF 54.2
-79.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿574
$53.9 CHF 43.04
-67.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,361
$88.2 CHF 70.5
-53.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿229
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿190
$18.43 CHF 14.73
-68.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.1K
$1,236 CHF 988
-75.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿481.0K
$35.2K CHF 28.1K
-58.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,837
$107 CHF 85.4
-47.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿863
$47.56 CHF 38.01
-44.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,823
$134 CHF 107
-35.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,378
$149 CHF 119
-51.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.1K
$1,708 CHF 1,365
-74.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,857
$1,474 CHF 1,178
-83.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.9K
$2,804 CHF 2,242
-70.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.8K
$2,461 CHF 1,967
-79.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿65.3K
$15.9K CHF 12.7K
-87.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.9K
$10.8K CHF 8,641
-86.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Stabio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
2.5
100.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Stabio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,708 in Stabio. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $169 in Stabio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $655 – 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 Stabio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Stabio?
Stabio costs about 284% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Stabio?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,002 in Stabio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Stabio?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Stabio?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,236 in Stabio. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Stabio?
Groceries cost about 172% more in Stabio, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Stabio?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Stabio at $3,334. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stabio it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Stabio?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $3,334 in Stabio. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Stabio?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Stabio?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stabio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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