ðA single person spends $1,859 per month in Les Ulis vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,805 per month in Les Ulis vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,751 per month in Les Ulis vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðLes Ulis costs about 118% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðLes Ulis sits 39% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73âŽ13.44
$1.96āļŋ63.6
702.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9âŽ59.7
$18.81āļŋ611
271.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.63âŽ9.07
$7.92āļŋ258
34.22%
Cappuccino
$3.69âŽ3.15
$1.91āļŋ62.2
93.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44âŽ2.93
$0.84āļŋ27.25
309.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29âŽ2.81
$0.35āļŋ11.44
840.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.04âŽ6.86
$2.21āļŋ71.7
263.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.76âŽ4.92
$3.80āļŋ124
51.58%
ð Groceries & Markets
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85âŽ0.73
$1.64āļŋ53.2
-48.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09âŽ1.78
$1.62āļŋ52.8
29.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01âŽ0.87
$1.18āļŋ38.40
-14.41%
Eggs
$5.12âŽ4.38
$2.01āļŋ65.4
154.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.10âŽ12.04
$15.89āļŋ517
-11.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.00âŽ11.96
$3.01āļŋ98.0
365.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.18âŽ11.25
$10.77āļŋ350
22.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25âŽ1.92
$2.61āļŋ85.0
-13.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83âŽ1.56
$1.22āļŋ39.65
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53âŽ3.02
$1.70āļŋ55.4
107.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.74âŽ3.20
$1.58āļŋ51.2
136.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70âŽ2.31
$1.32āļŋ42.89
104.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00âŽ1.71
$1.17āļŋ38.01
70.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91âŽ1.63
$0.67āļŋ21.85
185.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40âŽ0.34
$0.56āļŋ18.21
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.52âŽ9.84
$4.53āļŋ147
154.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.51âŽ8.12
$18.20āļŋ592
-47.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82âŽ2.41
$1.83āļŋ59.6
54.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99âŽ3.41
$3.23āļŋ105
23.53%
ð Getting Around
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99âŽ1.70
$0.89āļŋ28.83
123.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.01âŽ41.00
$19.38āļŋ630
147.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.55âŽ3.88
$1.35āļŋ43.95
237.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06âŽ1.76
$1.35āļŋ43.79
52.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$55.9âŽ47.78
$8.25āļŋ268
578.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12âŽ1.81
$1.27āļŋ41.40
66.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KâŽ31.0K
$21.2Kāļŋ687.8K
71.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3KâŽ31.0K
$22.5Kāļŋ731.0K
61.48%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$248âŽ212
$70.2āļŋ2,281
254.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.81âŽ14.36
$13.77āļŋ448
22.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.15âŽ30.87
$17.60āļŋ572
105.40%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.92âŽ31.53
$41.57āļŋ1,352
-11.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.03âŽ15.40
$6.60āļŋ215
173.18%
Cinema Ticket
$15.40âŽ13.15
$5.78āļŋ188
166.44%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$894âŽ763
$306āļŋ9,953
191.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,511âŽ7,268
$14.8Kāļŋ482.0K
-42.59%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112âŽ95.9
$54.4āļŋ1,768
106.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.81âŽ39.97
$26.14āļŋ850
79.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123âŽ105
$84.5āļŋ2,748
46.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157âŽ134
$69.4āļŋ2,257
126.21%
ð Accommodation & Living
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764âŽ652
$424āļŋ13.8K
80.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614âŽ524
$238āļŋ7,743
157.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378âŽ1,176
$825āļŋ26.8K
67.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073âŽ916
$515āļŋ16.7K
108.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,845âŽ3,283
$2,049āļŋ66.6K
87.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,084âŽ2,634
$1,523āļŋ49.5K
102.54%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Les Ulis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635āļŋ20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.55
5
-29.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Les Ulis: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Les Ulis 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.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Les Ulis versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $243 â 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
Les Ulis vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Les Ulis or Chiang Mai?
Les Ulis costs about 118% 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 Les Ulis vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,789 per month in Les Ulis and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Les Ulis 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 Les Ulis and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $894 per month in Les Ulis 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 Les Ulis or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Les Ulis, 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 Les Ulis or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Les Ulis at $1,859. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Les Ulis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Les Ulis or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,859 in Les Ulis. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Les Ulis 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Les Ulis or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Les Ulis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.