Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $2,298 in French Polynesia, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

🇵🇫 French Polynesia
$2,298
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: French Polynesia is 118% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 153.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: French Polynesia is 147% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 152.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.98 CFPF 1,808
$2.13 ฿71.4
697.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6 CFPF 8,051
$19.40 ฿649
289.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.22 CFPF 1,515
$5.47 ฿183
159.96%
Cappuccino
$4.11 CFPF 438
$1.68 ฿56.4
144.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 CFPF 285
$0.66 ฿22.10
306.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 CFPF 265
$0.34 ฿11.52
632.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.79 CFPF 510
$2.42 ฿81.0
97.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62 CFPF 598
$3.73 ฿125
50.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 CFPF 153
$2.06 ฿68.9
-30.10%
White Bread (500g)
$4.32 CFPF 460
$1.46 ฿48.78
195.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 CFPF 175
$1.35 ฿45.09
22.22%
Eggs
$6.75 CFPF 719
$2.27 ฿76.0
197.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$35.71 CFPF 3,803
$16.31 ฿546
118.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.36 CFPF 1,636
$2.70 ฿90.3
468.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.04 CFPF 2,561
$9.20 ฿308
161.30%
Apples (1kg)
$5.06 CFPF 538
$2.39 ฿80.1
111.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 CFPF 298
$1.04 ฿34.66
169.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.41 CFPF 682
$1.60 ฿53.7
300.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.92 CFPF 844
$1.44 ฿48.37
450.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.09 CFPF 329
$1.30 ฿43.59
137.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 CFPF 263
$1.11 ฿37.29
122.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.58 CFPF 381
$0.70 ฿23.55
411.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CFPF 129
$0.51 ฿16.99
137.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.74 CFPF 1,356
$4.13 ฿138
208.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.73 CFPF 2,527
$17.78 ฿595
33.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 CFPF 308
$1.63 ฿54.7
77.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 CFPF 392
$2.87 ฿96.0
28.22%
🚌 Getting Around
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 CFPF 206
$0.86 ฿28.76
124.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.32 CFPF 1,525
$53.2 ฿1,780
-73.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.27 CFPF 987
$1.22 ฿40.81
659.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 CFPF 256
$0.56 ฿18.81
328.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.12 CFPF 2,462
$2.31 ฿77.5
900.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 CFPF 153
$1.50 ฿50.2
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K CFPF 1.9M
$20.9K ฿698.3K
-12.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K CFPF 3.2M
$26.7K ฿895.0K
11.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 CFPF 18.7K
$61.3 ฿2,051
186.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.86 CFPF 2,008
$12.50 ฿419
50.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.0 CFPF 7,454
$20.36 ฿682
243.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.7 CFPF 7,852
$37.94 ฿1,270
94.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.89 CFPF 1,480
$6.60 ฿221
110.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$466 CFPF 49.6K
$774 ฿25.9K
-39.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,438 CFPF 1.0M
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-34.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 CFPF 7,435
$54.8 ฿1,835
27.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.1 CFPF 7,781
$25.26 ฿846
189.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 CFPF 8,453
$90.6 ฿3,032
-12.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 CFPF 9,428
$73.3 ฿2,453
20.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CFPF 131.7K
$459 ฿15.4K
169.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$926 CFPF 98.6K
$294 ฿9,835
215.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,824 CFPF 194.3K
$919 ฿30.8K
98.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 CFPF 163.1K
$552 ฿18.5K
177.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,009 CFPF 746.4K
$1,917 ฿64.2K
265.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,235 CFPF 983.5K
$1,445 ฿48.4K
539.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Polynesia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,893 CFPF 201.6K
$592 ฿19.8K
219.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.6
5.57
-17.41%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: October 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
$926
Chiang Mai
$294 68.3% $632
Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
$567
Chiang Mai
$236 58.4% $331
Eating Out
French Polynesia
$284
Chiang Mai
$77 72.8% $206
Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
$264
Chiang Mai
$94 64.4% $170
Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
$140
Chiang Mai
$110 21.5% $30
Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
$102
Chiang Mai
$51 49.6% $50
Getting Around
French Polynesia
$43
Chiang Mai
$61 39.9% $17
Good to know
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
21:37 9:37 PM
14:37 2:37 PM
17 h ahead of French Polynesia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
278,786
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to XPF – CFP Franc Converter

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.39 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.37 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • French Polynesia Chiang Mai 12,820 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • French Polynesia
  • Chiang Mai

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

French Polynesia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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