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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,782 in Tourcoing, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,810 in Tourcoing, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,838 in Tourcoing, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Tourcoing, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Tourcoing is 33% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 เธฟ62.8
$18.04 โ‚ฌ15.38
-89.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43 เธฟ594
$68.4 โ‚ฌ58.3
-73.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 เธฟ241
$11.58 โ‚ฌ9.88
-35.23%
Cappuccino
$1.93 เธฟ62.3
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.88
-42.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 เธฟ25.08
$3.23 โ‚ฌ2.75
-75.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 เธฟ10.42
$1.19 โ‚ฌ1.02
-73.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 เธฟ69.2
$5.85 โ‚ฌ4.99
-63.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 เธฟ120
$5.65 โ‚ฌ4.82
-34.34%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 เธฟ55.2
$1.54 โ‚ฌ1.31
11.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 เธฟ50.3
$1.78 โ‚ฌ1.52
-12.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ38.06
$3.02 โ‚ฌ2.58
-60.93%
Eggs
$1.98 เธฟ63.9
$4.02 โ‚ฌ3.43
-50.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.04 เธฟ517
$22.03 โ‚ฌ18.79
-27.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 เธฟ102
$13.34 โ‚ฌ11.38
-76.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 เธฟ353
$23.60 โ‚ฌ20.13
-53.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 เธฟ84.7
$3.63 โ‚ฌ3.10
-27.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 เธฟ37.61
$2.19 โ‚ฌ1.87
-46.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 เธฟ53.0
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.01
-30.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 เธฟ49.51
$3.27 โ‚ฌ2.79
-52.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 เธฟ44.34
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.69
-30.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 เธฟ37.54
$2.04 โ‚ฌ1.74
-42.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 เธฟ21.25
$1.52 โ‚ฌ1.30
-56.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 เธฟ16.55
$0.65 โ‚ฌ0.56
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 เธฟ146
$13.64 โ‚ฌ11.64
-66.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 เธฟ590
$8.92 โ‚ฌ7.61
105.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 เธฟ57.9
$2.32 โ‚ฌ1.98
-22.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 เธฟ102
$4.27 โ‚ฌ3.64
-25.53%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.97
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.71
-55.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 เธฟ612
$48.79 โ‚ฌ41.62
-61.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 เธฟ45.50
$4.65 โ‚ฌ3.97
-69.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 เธฟ42.15
$1.80 โ‚ฌ1.54
-27.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 เธฟ261
$32.97 โ‚ฌ28.13
-75.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 เธฟ41.08
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.69
-35.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K เธฟ686.1K
$37.3K โ‚ฌ31.8K
-42.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ699.3K
$36.8K โ‚ฌ31.4K
-41.03%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 เธฟ2,230
$195 โ‚ฌ166
-64.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 เธฟ450
$23.25 โ‚ฌ19.83
-39.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95 เธฟ578
$28.90 โ‚ฌ24.65
-37.89%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 เธฟ1,363
$37.22 โ‚ฌ31.75
13.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 เธฟ214
$18.52 โ‚ฌ15.80
-64.04%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 เธฟ191
$14.51 โ‚ฌ12.38
-59.20%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 เธฟ9,640
$564 โ‚ฌ481
-46.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ478.4K
$8,684 โ‚ฌ7,407
71.00%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 เธฟ1,810
$89.9 โ‚ฌ76.6
-37.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 เธฟ868
$36.59 โ‚ฌ31.21
-26.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 เธฟ2,735
$83.8 โ‚ฌ71.5
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 เธฟ2,314
$105 โ‚ฌ90.0
-31.91%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 เธฟ14.0K
$766 โ‚ฌ653
-43.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 เธฟ7,727
$614 โ‚ฌ524
-60.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 เธฟ25.7K
$1,388 โ‚ฌ1,184
-42.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 เธฟ16.1K
$1,073 โ‚ฌ915
-53.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 เธฟ64.3K
$3,646 โ‚ฌ3,110
-45.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 เธฟ49.4K
$3,469 โ‚ฌ2,959
-55.85%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tourcoing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 เธฟ20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3.69
35.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Tourcoing: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $766 in Tourcoing. 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $68 in Tourcoing. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $384 โ€“ 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 Tourcoing: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tourcoing?
Tourcoing costs about 111% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Tourcoing?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,673 in Tourcoing. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tourcoing?
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 Tourcoing?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $564 in Tourcoing. 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 Tourcoing?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Tourcoing, 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 Tourcoing?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Tourcoing at $1,782. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tourcoing it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Tourcoing?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,782 in Tourcoing. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Tourcoing?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Tourcoing?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tourcoing makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities