Cost of Living Comparison Between La Chaux-de-Fonds and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between La Chaux-de-Fonds and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,146 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,070 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,994 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

La Chaux-de-Fonds costs about 269% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

La Chaux-de-Fonds sits 135% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 CHF 19.57

$1.96 ฿63.6

1163.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.6 CHF 69.2

$18.81 ฿611

365.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.38 CHF 14.52

$7.92 ฿258

132.07%

Cappuccino

$4.77 CHF 3.77

$1.91 ฿62.2

149.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 CHF 2.89

$0.84 ฿27.25

335.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 CHF 3.75

$0.35 ฿11.44

1257.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.48 CHF 5.91

$2.21 ฿71.7

238.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 CHF 4.78

$3.80 ฿124

59.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CHF 1.82

$1.64 ฿53.2

40.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.89 CHF 3.08

$1.62 ฿52.8

140.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.35 CHF 3.44

$1.18 ฿38.40

268.64%

Eggs

$7.43 CHF 5.87

$2.01 ฿65.4

269.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.34 CHF 21.60

$15.89 ฿517

72.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.67 CHF 25.81

$3.01 ฿98.0

985.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.8 CHF 41.74

$10.77 ฿350

390.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 CHF 2.71

$2.61 ฿85.0

31.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 1.97

$1.22 ฿39.65

104.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 CHF 2.32

$1.70 ฿55.4

72.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 CHF 5.13

$1.58 ฿51.2

310.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 CHF 2.08

$1.32 ฿42.89

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 CHF 1.85

$1.17 ฿38.01

100.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 CHF 2.07

$0.67 ฿21.85

289.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 CHF 1.08

$0.56 ฿18.21

144.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.17 CHF 8.83

$4.53 ฿147

146.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.89 CHF 10.18

$18.20 ฿592

-29.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 CHF 1.89

$1.83 ฿59.6

30.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 CHF 2.97

$3.23 ฿105

16.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.16 CHF 2.50

$0.89 ฿28.83

255.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$162 CHF 128

$19.38 ฿630

733.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.78 CHF 6.15

$1.35 ฿43.95

476.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.49 CHF 2.76

$1.35 ฿43.79

158.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.2 CHF 50.7

$8.25 ฿268

678.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 CHF 1.82

$1.27 ฿41.40

81.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.6K CHF 32.0K

$21.2K ฿687.8K

91.74%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$48.6K CHF 38.4K

$22.5K ฿731.0K

115.94%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$256 CHF 202

$70.2 ฿2,281

265.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$47.90 CHF 37.84

$13.77 ฿448

247.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 CHF 49.34

$17.60 ฿572

254.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.3 CHF 59.5

$41.57 ฿1,352

81.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$24.33 CHF 19.22

$5.78 ฿188

320.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,041 CHF 2,402

$306 ฿9,953

893.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K CHF 16.5K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

40.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$135 CHF 107

$54.4 ฿1,768

148.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.7 CHF 62.2

$26.14 ฿850

201.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$162 CHF 128

$84.5 ฿2,748

91.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$213 CHF 168

$69.4 ฿2,257

207.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 CHF 1,147

$424 ฿13.8K

242.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 CHF 873

$238 ฿7,743

363.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,975 CHF 3,140

$825 ฿26.8K

381.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,412 CHF 1,906

$515 ฿16.7K

368.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.1K CHF 12.7K

$2,049 ฿66.6K

686.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,773 CHF 7,720

$1,523 ฿49.5K

541.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,303 CHF 4,189

$635 ฿20.6K

734.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.46

-50.80%

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

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,452 in La Chaux-de-Fonds 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 735% higher in La Chaux-de-Fonds, 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 $88.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $674 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

La Chaux-de-Fonds vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Chaux-de-Fonds costs about 269% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,719 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $3,041 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 177% more in La Chaux-de-Fonds, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in La Chaux-de-Fonds at $3,146. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Chaux-de-Fonds it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,146 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Chaux-de-Fonds makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.