😐A single person spends $1,978 per month in Nantes vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,084 per month in Nantes vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,190 per month in Nantes vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Nantes costs about 128% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Nantes sits 48% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13€14.75
$1.94฿63.5
782.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.5
$18.64฿609
246.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.52€9.92
$7.82฿255
47.31%
Cappuccino
$3.77€3.25
$1.95฿63.8
93.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.10
$0.85฿27.77
187.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.21
$0.35฿11.58
302.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.88€6.78
$2.13฿69.6
269.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18€4.46
$3.73฿122
38.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.71฿56.0
-30.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15€1.85
$1.63฿53.2
31.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07€2.64
$1.14฿37.15
169.30%
Eggs
$3.40€2.93
$1.93฿63.1
76.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.31€13.18
$16.21฿530
-5.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.59€14.29
$3.12฿102
431.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.03€18.10
$10.90฿356
92.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11€2.68
$2.75฿90.0
13.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$1.21฿39.52
71.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91€2.51
$1.62฿53.0
79.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13€2.69
$1.59฿51.8
96.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.40฿45.70
27.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22€1.91
$1.17฿38.17
89.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64€1.41
$0.66฿21.60
148.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.52
$0.53฿17.22
13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.88€11.09
$4.69฿153
174.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.04€6.06
$18.66฿609
-62.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.42€2.94
$1.80฿58.8
90.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.85
$3.23฿106
2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.11€1.82
$0.90฿29.26
134.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.8€61.0
$19.21฿628
268.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66€4.87
$1.41฿45.91
301.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.52€2.17
$1.29฿42.12
95.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.66€31.56
$7.84฿256
367.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.81
$1.27฿41.58
65.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€32.7K
$21.3K฿694.9K
78.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$22.2K฿725.4K
63.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186€160
$69.1฿2,256
169.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.99€19.80
$14.08฿460
63.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.03€24.13
$18.00฿588
55.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.29€27.80
$41.06฿1,341
-21.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.39€9.81
$6.96฿227
63.65%
Cinema Ticket
$13.90€11.97
$5.92฿193
134.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$832€716
$299฿9,766
178.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,528€8,203
$15.0K฿488.3K
-36.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108€92.8
$54.7฿1,787
97.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.43€31.36
$26.77฿874
36.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.9€82.6
$85.0฿2,776
12.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147€127
$70.6฿2,306
108.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$820€706
$428฿14.0K
91.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$727€626
$237฿7,752
206.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,024€1,742
$801฿26.2K
152.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,461€1,257
$515฿16.8K
183.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,312€4,573
$1,975฿64.5K
169.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,826€3,293
$1,475฿48.2K
159.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nantes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,855€2,458
$617฿20.2K
362.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
5
-27.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nantes: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $820 in Nantes versus $428 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 362% higher in Nantes, 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 $65.0 in Nantes versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $246 – 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
Nantes vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nantes or Chiang Mai?
Nantes costs about 128% 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 Nantes vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,967 per month in Nantes and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nantes 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 Nantes and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $832 per month in Nantes and $299 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 Nantes or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Nantes, 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 Nantes or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Nantes at $1,978. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nantes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nantes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,978 in Nantes. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nantes 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 Nantes or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nantes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.