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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,525 in Thun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,293 in Thun, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,060 in Thun, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 75% cheaper than Thun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Thun is 163% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$28.21 CHF 22.26

-93.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$124 CHF 97.7

-84.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$17.30 CHF 13.66

-54.80%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.89 CHF 4.65

-66.89%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$4.75 CHF 3.75

-82.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$4.83 CHF 3.81

-92.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$8.48 CHF 6.69

-74.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.67 CHF 6.05

-51.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.22 CHF 1.75

-22.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.40 CHF 2.69

-52.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$4.13 CHF 3.26

-72.40%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.32 CHF 5.78

-73.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$26.79 CHF 21.15

-39.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$28.73 CHF 22.68

-89.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$41.10 CHF 32.44

-73.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.56 CHF 2.81

-22.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.15 CHF 1.70

-43.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.79 CHF 2.20

-41.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$6.33 CHF 4.99

-74.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.23 CHF 1.76

-37.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.16 CHF 1.71

-45.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.54 CHF 2.01

-74.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.11 CHF 0.87

-52.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$11.10 CHF 8.76

-57.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$12.65 CHF 9.98

47.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.90 CHF 1.50

-5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.29 CHF 1.80

41.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$3.83 CHF 3.02

-76.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$100.0 CHF 78.9

-80.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$7.90 CHF 6.23

-82.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.30 CHF 2.61

-60.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$66.2 CHF 52.3

-88.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.24 CHF 1.77

-43.30%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$40.3K CHF 31.8K

-47.18%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$40.8K CHF 32.2K

-45.52%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$366 CHF 289

-81.11%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$59.6 CHF 47.00

-76.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$59.2 CHF 46.75

-69.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$86.5 CHF 68.3

-52.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$24.60 CHF 19.42

-75.93%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$3,030 CHF 2,391

-90.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$33.9K CHF 26.7K

-55.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$153 CHF 120

-64.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$69.8 CHF 55.1

-61.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$176 CHF 139

-51.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$186 CHF 147

-62.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,687 CHF 1,331

-74.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$1,473 CHF 1,162

-83.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$2,870 CHF 2,265

-72.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$2,499 CHF 1,972

-79.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$7,647 CHF 6,035

-80.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$6,206 CHF 4,898

-90.05%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Thun: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,687 in Thun. 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 905% higher in Thun, 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 Thun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $597 – 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 Thun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thun costs about 307% 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 $5,288 in Thun. 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 $3,030 in Thun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 142% more in Thun, 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 Thun at $3,525. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,525 in Thun. 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, Thun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.