😐A single person spends $3,301 per month in Chur vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,228 per month in Chur vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,154 per month in Chur vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Chur costs about 254% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chur sits 141% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.92CHF 24.69
$2.08฿69.5
1338.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112CHF 92.2
$19.61฿655
469.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.71CHF 13.79
$5.67฿189
194.71%
Cappuccino
$5.93CHF 4.90
$1.81฿60.3
227.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61CHF 4.63
$0.77฿25.65
628.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02CHF 4.14
$0.35฿11.53
1334.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.64CHF 7.13
$2.21฿73.9
290.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.55CHF 7.06
$3.79฿127
125.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15CHF 1.77
$2.05฿68.4
4.88%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43CHF 2.83
$1.51฿50.6
127.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.40CHF 3.64
$1.40฿46.69
214.29%
Eggs
$7.88CHF 6.51
$2.26฿75.4
248.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.67CHF 22.01
$16.19฿540
64.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$26.03CHF 21.48
$2.90฿96.7
797.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$40.46CHF 33.40
$9.42฿314
329.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55CHF 2.93
$2.68฿89.4
32.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16CHF 1.78
$1.09฿36.37
98.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63CHF 2.17
$1.62฿54.0
62.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.87CHF 4.02
$1.46฿48.74
233.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91CHF 1.58
$1.28฿42.65
49.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24CHF 1.85
$1.06฿35.31
111.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35CHF 1.94
$0.72฿23.94
226.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45CHF 1.19
$0.53฿17.56
173.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.89CHF 8.99
$4.23฿141
157.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.96CHF 10.70
$18.29฿611
-29.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18CHF 1.80
$1.63฿54.4
33.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79CHF 2.31
$2.90฿96.8
-3.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.26CHF 4.34
$0.88฿29.32
497.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$189CHF 156
$53.8฿1,795
251.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.51CHF 6.20
$1.17฿39.14
541.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.79CHF 3.96
$0.58฿19.30
725.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.0CHF 71.8
$2.39฿79.6
3538.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14CHF 1.77
$1.45฿48.41
47.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3KCHF 34.1K
$21.0K฿701.4K
96.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7KCHF 31.2K
$26.4K฿882.0K
42.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$235CHF 194
$63.7฿2,125
269.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.12CHF 26.51
$12.89฿430
149.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8CHF 46.04
$20.52฿685
171.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$81.7CHF 67.4
$39.02฿1,302
109.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.93CHF 28.00
$3.92฿131
765.56%
Cinema Ticket
$21.72CHF 17.93
$6.58฿220
230.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,406CHF 1,986
$784฿26.2K
206.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$44.4KCHF 36.6K
$14.7K฿489.8K
202.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2CHF 76.1
$55.1฿1,840
67.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.64CHF 40.15
$24.74฿826
96.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120CHF 99.4
$94.1฿3,142
27.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$171CHF 141
$74.0฿2,469
131.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,732CHF 1,430
$490฿16.4K
253.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,389CHF 1,146
$288฿9,620
381.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019CHF 2,492
$891฿29.8K
238.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,606CHF 2,151
$521฿17.4K
400.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,467CHF 6,164
$1,974฿65.9K
278.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,587CHF 4,612
$1,444฿48.2K
286.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,407CHF 6,939
$602฿20.1K
1297.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.72
5.57
-69.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chur: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,732 in Chur versus $490 in Chiang Mai. 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 1298% higher in Chur, 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 $112 in Chur versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $581 vs $241 – 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
Chur vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chur or Chiang Mai?
Chur costs about 254% 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 Chur and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,952 per month in Chur and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chur or Chiang Mai?
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 Chur and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,406 per month in Chur and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chur or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 141% more in Chur, 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 Chur or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Chur at $3,301. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chur or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $3,301 in Chur. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chur compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Chur or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.