Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Leu and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,502 in Saint-Leu, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint-Leu, Reunion
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Saint-Leu
🇷🇪 Reunion
$1,502
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,502 per month in Saint-Leu vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Saint-Leu $1,502
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $2,353 per month in Saint-Leu vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Saint-Leu $2,353
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $3,204 per month in Saint-Leu vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Saint-Leu $3,204
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Saint-Leu costs about 61% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Saint-Leu sits 11% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.82 €24.76
$2.13 ฿71.7
1206.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.9 €79.1
$18.62 ฿625
377.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.60 ฿188
-
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.55
$1.66 ฿55.9
72.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.65 ฿21.73
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 €0.98
$0.30 ฿10.24
266.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.60 €6.77
$2.32 ฿78.0
227.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.49 €4.89
$3.67 ฿123
49.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.02
$2.02 ฿67.7
-43.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 €1.10
$1.41 ฿47.29
-12.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 €1.98
$1.39 ฿46.75
59.71%
Eggs
$4.44 €3.95
$2.37 ฿79.5
87.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.35 €19.89
$16.52 ฿555
35.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$2.67 ฿89.7
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.02 ฿303
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.41 €3.04
$2.40 ฿80.6
42.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.47
$1.04 ฿34.98
59.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.66 ฿55.7
31.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 €2.92
$1.56 ฿52.4
110.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.24 ฿41.57
83.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 €2.04
$1.09 ฿36.50
110.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.76 ฿25.59
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$0.51 ฿17.27
60.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.58 €12.98
$4.12 ฿138
253.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.60 €4.98
$17.93 ฿602
-68.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.48
$1.62 ฿54.5
3.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.82 ฿94.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.93 ฿31.39
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$52.9 ฿1,777
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.18 ฿39.52
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.17 ฿5.76
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.81 ฿60.9
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.74
$1.47 ฿49.47
32.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.0K ฿705.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.5K ฿890.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.9 €85.4
$62.6 ฿2,101
53.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.02 €8.91
$11.60 ฿390
-13.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.31 €29.64
$20.30 ฿682
64.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.67 €29.96
$37.88 ฿1,272
-11.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.70 ฿124
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.23 €9.10
$6.51 ฿219
57.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$727 ฿24.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$16.6K ฿556.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.5 ฿1,798
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.80 ฿833
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$90.4 ฿3,036
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$72.0 ฿2,418
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 €992
$481 ฿16.2K
131.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 €701
$310 ฿10.4K
154.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,823
$1,058 ฿35.5K
93.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 €1,204
$659 ฿22.1K
105.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,418 ฿81.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,609 ฿54.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Leu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,995 €1,775
$595 ฿20.0K
235.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
5.57
-28.19%

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

Last update for Saint-Leu: 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
Saint-Leu
–
Chiang Mai
$310
Groceries & Markets
Saint-Leu
–
Chiang Mai
$237
Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Leu
–
Chiang Mai
$108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Leu
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Saint-Leu
–
Chiang Mai
$77
Getting Around
Saint-Leu
–
Chiang Mai
$59
Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Leu
–
Chiang Mai
$51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Saint-Leu 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 Saint-Leu are about 3.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Saint-Leu versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Saint-Leu vs $237 in Chiang Mai – so Saint-Leu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇷🇪 Saint-Leu
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:46 6:46 AM
09:46 9:46 AM
3 h ahead of Saint-Leu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
34,893
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 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saint-Leu Chiang Mai 6,510 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint-Leu
  • 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
Saint-Leu vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saint-Leu or Chiang Mai?
Saint-Leu costs about 61% 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 Saint-Leu and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,253 per month in Saint-Leu 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, Saint-Leu or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,115 in Saint-Leu.
How much does it cost to live in Saint-Leu compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,502 in Saint-Leu and $935 in Chiang Mai. That makes Chiang Mai about 38% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Saint-Leu or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Saint-Leu – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Can you live on $800/month in Saint-Leu or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,502 in Saint-Leu 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: Saint-Leu 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 $1,502 in Saint-Leu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Saint-Leu 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 Saint-Leu or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint-Leu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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