Cost of Living Comparison Between Ferney-Voltaire and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ferney-Voltaire and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,150 per month in Ferney-Voltaire vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,608 per month in Ferney-Voltaire vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,065 per month in Ferney-Voltaire vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ferney-Voltaire costs about 152% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ferney-Voltaire sits 61% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.55 €20.16
$1.96 ฿64.0
1101.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 €59.1
$18.81 ฿615
267.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 €10.06
$7.92 ฿259
48.36%
Cappuccino
$3.76 €3.22
$1.91 ฿62.6
96.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.53
$0.84 ฿27.41
252.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.92
$0.35 ฿11.51
540.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.01 €6.86
$2.21 ฿72.1
262.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.77 €5.79
$3.80 ฿124
78.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.64 ฿53.5
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 €1.48
$1.62 ฿53.1
6.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.59 €2.22
$1.18 ฿38.62
119.49%
Eggs
$4.13 €3.53
$2.01 ฿65.8
105.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.35 €16.56
$15.89 ฿520
21.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.54 €10.73
$3.01 ฿98.5
316.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.67 €17.70
$10.77 ฿352
91.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 €2.41
$2.61 ฿85.5
7.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.91
$1.22 ฿39.88
82.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 €2.35
$1.70 ฿55.7
61.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.59 €3.08
$1.58 ฿51.5
127.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.32 ฿43.14
52.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 €2.23
$1.17 ฿38.23
123.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.27
$0.67 ฿21.98
120.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 €0.60
$0.56 ฿18.32
26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.50 €11.56
$4.53 ฿148
198.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.33 €5.42
$18.20 ฿595
-65.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.62
$1.83 ฿60.0
3.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 €2.88
$3.23 ฿106
4.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.39 €2.90
$0.89 ฿29.00
280.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.95 €42.76
$19.38 ฿634
157.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.77 €4.08
$1.35 ฿44.20
253.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 €1.60
$1.35 ฿44.05
38.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.82 €30.67
$8.25 ฿270
334.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.76
$1.27 ฿41.64
62.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K €31.6K
$21.2K ฿691.8K
74.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K €31.9K
$22.5K ฿735.3K
65.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 €168
$70.2 ฿2,294
179.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.99 €19.68
$13.77 ฿450
66.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0 €53.9
$17.60 ฿575
257.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 €31.94
$41.57 ฿1,360
-10.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.55 €15.88
$6.60 ฿216
181.06%
Cinema Ticket
$13.71 €11.73
$5.78 ฿189
137.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$785 €672
$306 ฿10.0K
156.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,553 €7,321
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-42.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 €48.86
$54.4 ฿1,778
4.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.55 €33.86
$26.14 ฿855
51.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.8 €79.4
$84.5 ฿2,764
9.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 €119
$69.4 ฿2,270
100.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$758 €649
$424 ฿13.9K
78.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$905 €775
$238 ฿7,788
280.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,485 €2,127
$825 ฿27.0K
201.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,321 €1,986
$515 ฿16.8K
350.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,189 €3,586
$2,049 ฿67.0K
104.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,964 €2,537
$1,523 ฿49.8K
94.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ferney-Voltaire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,083 €3,495
$635 ฿20.8K
542.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
5
-30.00%

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

Last update for Ferney-Voltaire: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $758 in Ferney-Voltaire versus $424 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 543% higher in Ferney-Voltaire, 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 $69.0 in Ferney-Voltaire versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $243 – 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
Ferney-Voltaire vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ferney-Voltaire or Chiang Mai?
Ferney-Voltaire costs about 152% 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 Ferney-Voltaire vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,225 per month in Ferney-Voltaire and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ferney-Voltaire 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 Ferney-Voltaire and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $785 per month in Ferney-Voltaire and $306 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 Ferney-Voltaire or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Ferney-Voltaire, 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 Ferney-Voltaire or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Ferney-Voltaire at $2,150. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ferney-Voltaire it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ferney-Voltaire or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,150 in Ferney-Voltaire. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ferney-Voltaire 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 Ferney-Voltaire or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ferney-Voltaire makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ferney-Voltaire vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities