Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kourou and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Kourou: $177 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kourou
🇬🇫 French Guiana
$177
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $177 per month in Kourou vs $906 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kourou $177
  • Chiang Mai $906

A couple spends around $304 per month in Kourou vs $1,385 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kourou $304
  • Chiang Mai $1,385

A family of three spends $432 per month in Kourou vs $1,864 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kourou $432
  • Chiang Mai $1,864

Kourou is about 80% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Kourou and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kourou 87% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.13 ฿71.4
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.40 ฿649
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.47 ฿183
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.68 ฿56.4
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.66 ฿22.10
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.34 ฿11.52
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.42 ฿81.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73 ฿125
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$2.06 ฿68.9
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.76
$1.46 ฿48.78
35.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.35 ฿45.09
-
Eggs
$6.74 €6.01
$2.27 ฿76.0
196.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$16.31 ฿546
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$2.70 ฿90.3
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.20 ฿308
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 €3.87
$2.39 ฿80.1
81.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 €2.07
$1.04 ฿34.66
123.08%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.60 ฿53.7
-
Tomato (1kg)
$7.83 €6.99
$1.44 ฿48.37
443.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.19
$1.30 ฿43.59
88.46%
Onion (1kg)
$7.00 €6.24
$1.11 ฿37.29
530.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 €2.00
$0.70 ฿23.55
220.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.74
$0.51 ฿16.99
282.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.13 ฿138
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.78 ฿595
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63 ฿54.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.87 ฿96.0
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.86 ฿28.76
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.2 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.22 ฿40.81
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.56 ฿18.81
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.31 ฿77.5
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.50 ฿50.2
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.9K ฿698.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.7K ฿895.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$61.3 ฿2,051
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$12.50 ฿419
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$20.36 ฿682
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.94 ฿1,270
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.60 ฿221
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$774 ฿25.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.8 ฿1,835
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$25.26 ฿846
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$90.6 ฿3,032
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$73.3 ฿2,453
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,491 €1,330
$459 ฿15.4K
224.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$294 ฿9,835
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$919 ฿30.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$552 ฿18.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,917 ฿64.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,445 ฿48.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kourou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$592 ฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Kourou: October 4, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kourou
–
Chiang Mai
$294
Groceries & Markets
Kourou
–
Chiang Mai
$236
Clothing & Footwear
Kourou
–
Chiang Mai
$110
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kourou
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Kourou
–
Chiang Mai
$77
Getting Around
Kourou
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Kourou
–
Chiang Mai
$51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,491 in Kourou versus $459 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.

Good to know
🇬🇫 Kourou
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
07:45 7:45 AM
17:45 5:45 PM
10 h ahead of Kourou
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,903
127,240
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kourou Chiang Mai 15,920 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kourou
  • 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
Kourou vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kourou or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 412% more than Kourou, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 Kourou and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $265 per month in Kourou and $1,359 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kourou or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kourou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Kourou compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $177 in Kourou and $906 in Chiang Mai. That's a gap of about 412%.
Are groceries more expensive in Kourou or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $2,000/month in Kourou or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kourou, where all-in costs run around $177, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Kourou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kourou or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kourou costs $177 versus $906 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kourou 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 Kourou or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kourou. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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