Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Wil

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $3,136 in Wil, rent and utilities included – about $26,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wil, Switzerland
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Wil
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,136
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Wil

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Wil actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,136 in Wil, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Wil $3,136

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,645 in Wil, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Wil $4,645

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,154 in Wil, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Wil $6,154

Chiang Mai is about 70% cheaper than Wil, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Wil is 130% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$29.06 CHF 23.97
-92.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$142 CHF 117
-86.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$23.86 CHF 19.68
-76.74%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$6.15 CHF 5.07
-72.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$5.84 CHF 4.82
-89.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$5.09 CHF 4.20
-93.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$9.24 CHF 7.62
-74.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$6.46 CHF 5.32
-43.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$2.17 CHF 1.79
-10.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$3.97 CHF 3.28
-63.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$3.69 CHF 3.05
-63.96%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$7.95 CHF 6.56
-71.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$26.95 CHF 22.23
-38.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$28.03 CHF 23.12
-90.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$41.77 CHF 34.45
-77.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$3.75 CHF 3.09
-37.33%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$2.01 CHF 1.66
-51.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.35 CHF 1.93
-31.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$5.31 CHF 4.38
-71.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$2.04 CHF 1.68
-37.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$2.13 CHF 1.76
-48.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$2.30 CHF 1.89
-69.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$1.24 CHF 1.02
-60.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$10.87 CHF 8.96
-61.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$18.29 CHF 15.08
-4.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.21 CHF 1.83
-27.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.24 CHF 1.85
24.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$3.88 CHF 3.20
-77.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$89.5 CHF 73.8
-39.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$6.81 CHF 5.61
-82.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$4.68 CHF 3.86
-88.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$36.56 CHF 30.16
-93.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$2.24 CHF 1.84
-35.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$38.6K CHF 31.8K
-45.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$39.5K CHF 32.6K
-31.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$311 CHF 257
-80.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$37.59 CHF 31.00
-67.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$54.7 CHF 45.13
-63.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$83.6 CHF 68.9
-55.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$27.51 CHF 22.69
-76.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$2,272 CHF 1,874
-67.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$31.6K CHF 26.0K
-53.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$145 CHF 120
-63.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$67.4 CHF 55.6
-63.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$143 CHF 118
-36.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$267 CHF 220
-73.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,470 CHF 1,212
-67.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$1,090 CHF 899
-71.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$2,076 CHF 1,712
-51.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,429 CHF 1,178
-55.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Wil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$4,382 CHF 3,614
-86.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
1.9
193.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Wil: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Wil
$1.1K 253% $781
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Wil
$608 159% $373
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Wil
$280 158% $171
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Wil
$404 327% $309
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Wil
$481 520% $403
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Wil
$135 120% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Wil
$139 176% $88

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,470 in Wil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Wil are about 7.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $142 in Wil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $608 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇭 Wil
🕒 Local time
09:36 9:36 AM
03:36 3:36 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
18,988
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.825 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.921 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Wil 8,480 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Wil

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Wil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Wil?
Wil costs about 235% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 and in Wil?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,703 in Wil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Wil?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,470 in Wil.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Wil?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,272 in Wil. 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 in Wil?
Groceries cost about 159% more in Wil, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Wil?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $3,136 in Wil. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Wil?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Wil?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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