Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Poitiers and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,570 in Poitiers, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Poitiers, France
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Poitiers
🇫🇷 France
$1,570
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Poitiers 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 Poitiers and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,570 per month in Poitiers vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Poitiers $1,570
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $2,404 per month in Poitiers vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Poitiers $2,404
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $3,239 per month in Poitiers vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Poitiers $3,239
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Poitiers costs about 68% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Poitiers sits 16% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.14 €13.59
$2.13 ฿71.6
610.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5 €49.81
$18.62 ฿625
198.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.37 €12.90
$5.60 ฿188
156.61%
Cappuccino
$2.62 €2.35
$1.66 ฿55.8
57.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €3.04
$0.65 ฿21.70
421.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.68
$0.30 ฿10.23
523.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.68 €5.99
$2.32 ฿77.9
187.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03 €5.41
$3.67 ฿123
64.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 €1.40
$2.02 ฿67.6
-22.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 €2.07
$1.41 ฿47.24
63.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.66
$1.39 ฿46.69
33.09%
Eggs
$5.02 €4.51
$2.37 ฿79.4
111.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.04 €17.08
$16.52 ฿554
15.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.37 €10.20
$2.67 ฿89.6
325.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.74 €14.13
$9.02 ฿303
74.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 €2.27
$2.40 ฿80.5
5.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 €1.80
$1.04 ฿34.93
93.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 €3.04
$1.66 ฿55.7
104.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 €2.66
$1.56 ฿52.3
89.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$1.24 ฿41.52
58.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 €2.16
$1.09 ฿36.46
121.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.82 €2.53
$0.76 ฿25.56
271.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 €0.55
$0.51 ฿17.25
21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.36 €11.99
$4.12 ฿138
224.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.59 €8.61
$17.93 ฿602
-46.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.69
$1.62 ฿54.5
84.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 €3.47
$2.82 ฿94.7
37.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 €1.81
$0.93 ฿31.35
116.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.38 €40.72
$52.9 ฿1,775
-14.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.04 €8.12
$1.18 ฿39.48
666.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.77 €2.49
$0.17 ฿5.75
1529.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.26 €31.65
$1.81 ฿60.8
1848.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 €1.89
$1.47 ฿49.41
42.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K €30.5K
$21.0K ฿705.0K
61.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K €29.0K
$26.5K ฿889.6K
21.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$254 €228
$62.6 ฿2,099
306.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.01 €10.78
$11.60 ฿389
3.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €34.98
$20.30 ฿681
92.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.50 €43.53
$37.88 ฿1,271
28.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.74 €17.72
$3.70 ฿124
433.51%
Cinema Ticket
$8.70 €7.80
$6.51 ฿218
33.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$669 €601
$727 ฿24.4K
-7.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K €9,815
$16.6K ฿556.1K
-34.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.5 €83.9
$53.5 ฿1,796
74.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.64 €40.95
$24.80 ฿832
84.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 €71.0
$90.4 ฿3,032
-12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4 €65.9
$72.0 ฿2,415
2.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 €520
$481 ฿16.1K
20.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 €339
$310 ฿10.4K
21.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 €829
$1,058 ฿35.5K
-12.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$708 €636
$659 ฿22.1K
7.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,603 €3,234
$2,418 ฿81.1K
49.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,189 €1,964
$1,609 ฿54.0K
36.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poitiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,992 €1,788
$595 ฿20.0K
234.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.57
-31.60%

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

Last update for Poitiers: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Poitiers
$377
Chiang Mai
$310 17.9% $67
Groceries & Markets
Poitiers
$352
Chiang Mai
$237 32.7% $115
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poitiers
$305
Chiang Mai
$94 69% $211
Eating Out
Poitiers
$262
Chiang Mai
$77 70.8% $186
Clothing & Footwear
Poitiers
$131
Chiang Mai
$108 17.5% $23
Getting Around
Poitiers
$76
Chiang Mai
$59 23.2% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Poitiers
$66
Chiang Mai
$51 22.8% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $579 in Poitiers versus $481 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 in Poitiers are about 3.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56 in Poitiers versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Poitiers
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
18:36 6:36 PM
00:36 12:36 AM
6 h ahead of Poitiers
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
90,240
127,240
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 0.897 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 33.55 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.39 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Poitiers Chiang Mai 9,140 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Poitiers
  • 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
Poitiers vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Poitiers or Chiang Mai?
Poitiers costs about 68% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Poitiers and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,355 per month in Poitiers and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Poitiers or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $579 in Poitiers.
How do childcare costs compare in Poitiers and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $669 per month in Poitiers and $727 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 Poitiers or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Poitiers, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Poitiers or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,570 in Poitiers and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Poitiers or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,570 in Poitiers. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Poitiers compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Poitiers or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Poitiers makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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