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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $783 per month in Saint-Louis vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,274 per month in Saint-Louis vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,765 per month in Saint-Louis vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint-Louis is about 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Saint-Louis and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Saint-Louis 41% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 F CFA 1,993

$1.96 ฿65.7

77.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 F CFA 30.3K

$18.35 ฿616

188.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 F CFA 5,841

$7.48 ฿251

36.36%

Cappuccino

$4.59 F CFA 2,630

$2.02 ฿67.7

127.23%

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

$0.92 F CFA 529

$0.85 ฿28.45

8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 F CFA 605

$0.36 ฿11.94

194.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 F CFA 1,036

$2.14 ฿71.7

-15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 F CFA 2,562

$3.59 ฿121

24.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.64 F CFA 1,512

$1.65 ฿55.4

60.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 F CFA 156

$1.57 ฿52.6

-82.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 F CFA 916

$1.19 ฿39.95

34.45%

Eggs

$2.71 F CFA 1,552

$1.94 ฿65.0

39.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 F CFA 7,400

$16.19 ฿544

-20.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 F CFA 5,203

$2.99 ฿100

203.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 F CFA 6,265

$10.94 ฿367

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 F CFA 1,570

$2.71 ฿91.0

1.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 F CFA 1,089

$1.17 ฿39.18

62.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 F CFA 1,490

$1.69 ฿56.6

53.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 F CFA 1,192

$1.60 ฿53.9

30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 F CFA 856

$1.38 ฿46.45

7.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 F CFA 772

$1.20 ฿40.38

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 F CFA 587

$0.67 ฿22.46

52.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 F CFA 389

$0.56 ฿18.70

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 F CFA 886

$4.64 ฿156

-66.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.11 F CFA 9,805

$17.62 ฿591

-2.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 F CFA 684

$1.86 ฿62.4

-36.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 F CFA 1,335

$3.30 ฿111

-29.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 F CFA 527

$1.36 ฿45.82

-32.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.85 F CFA 1,632

$1.34 ฿44.90

112.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.70 F CFA 10.1K

$8.21 ฿276

115.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 F CFA 1,029

$1.22 ฿41.11

47.54%

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

$36.0K F CFA 20.6M

$21.4K ฿716.8K

68.61%

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

$50.3K F CFA 28.8M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

123.15%

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

$140 F CFA 80.0K

$70.7 ฿2,372

97.48%

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

$9.72 F CFA 5,570

$14.04 ฿471

-30.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 F CFA 28.7K

$17.49 ฿587

186.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 F CFA 5,188

$5.92 ฿199

53.04%

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

$267 F CFA 152.7K

$309 ฿10.4K

-13.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,248 F CFA 4.2M

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-51.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 F CFA 38.7K

$55.8 ฿1,872

21.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.90 F CFA 25.2K

$26.11 ฿877

68.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 F CFA 58.9K

$83.0 ฿2,787

23.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 F CFA 73.5K

$70.5 ฿2,365

82.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 F CFA 253.7K

$432 ฿14.5K

2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

65.00%

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

Last update for Saint-Louis: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Saint-Louis 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Saint-Louis versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 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-Louis vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Saint-Louis, 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 $1,174 per month in Saint-Louis 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 Saint-Louis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Saint-Louis and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Chiang Mai – 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 Saint-Louis, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Chiang Mai at $861. In Saint-Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint-Louis costs $783 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. 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 Saint-Louis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.