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 $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Saint-Joseph vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,884 per month in Saint-Joseph vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint-Joseph costs about 82% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saint-Joseph sits 18% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 €10.14

$1.96 ฿65.9

491.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.9 €50.6

$18.35 ฿617

215.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.24 €8.96

$7.48 ฿252

36.90%

Cappuccino

$2.34 €2.05

$2.02 ฿67.8

15.84%

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

$3.39 €2.97

$0.85 ฿28.52

298.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 €2.06

$0.36 ฿11.97

552.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 €3.10

$2.14 ฿71.9

65.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 €4.08

$3.59 ฿121

29.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 €1.63

$1.65 ฿55.5

12.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 €1.25

$1.57 ฿52.7

-8.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$5.81 €5.08

$1.94 ฿65.1

199.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 €5.19

$16.19 ฿545

-63.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 €7.89

$2.99 ฿101

201.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.69 €15.48

$10.94 ฿368

61.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$3.49 €3.05

$1.20 ฿40.47

190.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 €2.08

$0.56 ฿18.74

325.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.60 €15.40

$4.64 ฿156

279.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 €7.86

$17.62 ฿593

-49.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 €2.00

$1.86 ฿62.6

23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 €3.00

$3.30 ฿111

3.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

$0.88 ฿29.70

159.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.58 €35.51

$19.34 ฿651

109.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.36 €2.06

$1.22 ฿41.20

93.44%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$227 €199

$70.7 ฿2,378

221.17%

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.06 €40.30

$17.49 ฿589

163.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.30 €20.39

$42.15 ฿1,418

-44.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 €10.03

$5.92 ฿199

93.75%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 €59.9

$55.8 ฿1,876

22.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.45 €20.52

$26.11 ฿879

-10.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 €79.8

$83.0 ฿2,793

9.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 €151

$70.5 ฿2,371

144.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 €617

$432 ฿14.5K

63.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 €500

$239 ฿8,040

139.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 €924

$822 ฿27.7K

28.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$819 €716

$512 ฿17.2K

59.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,384 €1,211

$579 ฿19.5K

138.84%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Saint-Joseph versus $432 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 139% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 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

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

Saint-Joseph costs about 82% 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 $1,292 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 110% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Saint-Joseph, 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 $861, 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 $861 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.