Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Joseph and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Joseph and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,571 per month in Saint-Joseph vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,241 per month in Saint-Joseph vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,911 per month in Saint-Joseph vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint-Joseph costs about 81% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saint-Joseph sits 17% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.55 €9.93

$1.94 ฿63.5

495.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.4 €50.3

$18.64 ฿609

213.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.53 €9.06

$7.82 ฿255

34.65%

Cappuccino

$2.28 €1.96

$1.95 ฿63.8

16.92%

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

$3.54 €3.05

$0.85 ฿27.77

316.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 €1.96

$0.35 ฿11.58

551.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 €3.02

$2.13 ฿69.6

65.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 €4.01

$3.73 ฿122

24.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 €1.63

$1.71 ฿56.0

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 €1.18

$1.63 ฿53.2

-15.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$5.69 €4.90

$1.93 ฿63.1

194.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.77 €4.96

$16.21 ฿530

-64.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 €7.76

$3.12 ฿102

189.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.58 €15.12

$10.90 ฿356

61.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 €3.02

$1.17 ฿38.17

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 €2.01

$0.53 ฿17.22

339.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.14 €14.74

$4.69 ฿153

265.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 €8.10

$18.66 ฿609

-49.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 €1.95

$1.80 ฿58.8

25.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 €2.94

$3.23 ฿106

5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 €2.01

$0.90 ฿29.26

158.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.50 €34.84

$19.21 ฿628

110.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 €1.97

$1.27 ฿41.58

81.10%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$227 €195

$69.1 ฿2,256

228.90%

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.87 €40.32

$18.00 ฿588

160.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.60 €20.30

$41.06 ฿1,341

-42.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$11.59 €9.97

$5.92 ฿193

95.78%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 €59.8

$54.7 ฿1,787

27.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.92 €19.71

$26.77 ฿874

-14.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 €78.7

$85.0 ฿2,776

7.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 €149

$70.6 ฿2,306

145.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$702 €604

$428 ฿14.0K

64.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$574 €494

$237 ฿7,752

142.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 €913

$801 ฿26.2K

32.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$805 €693

$515 ฿16.8K

56.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,411 €1,214

$617 ฿20.2K

128.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Saint-Joseph: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $702 in Saint-Joseph 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 129% higher in Saint-Joseph, 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 $58.0 in Saint-Joseph versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Saint-Joseph vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Saint-Joseph wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Saint-Joseph vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint-Joseph costs about 81% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,356 per month in Saint-Joseph and $1,300 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.

Public transport costs about 111% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Saint-Joseph – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Saint-Joseph at $1,571. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint-Joseph it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,571 in Saint-Joseph. 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, Saint-Joseph makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.