😐A single person spends $1,299 per month in Schaan vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,208 per month in Schaan vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,117 per month in Schaan vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Schaan costs about 37% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Schaan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Schaan6% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.09CHF 22.93
$2.10฿69.3
1237.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.7CHF 71.6
$19.84฿656
342.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.68CHF 11.98
$5.79฿191
153.54%
Cappuccino
$6.60CHF 5.38
$1.83฿60.4
260.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01CHF 2.46
$0.78฿25.61
285.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.02CHF 4.92
$0.31฿10.37
1841.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.94CHF 4.03
$2.34฿77.2
111.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78CHF 3.08
$3.70฿122
2.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94CHF 1.58
$2.03฿67.1
-4.43%
White Bread(500g)
$5.02CHF 4.10
$1.60฿52.7
213.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.42฿46.75
-
Eggs
$5.99CHF 4.89
$2.18฿71.9
174.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.21CHF 23.84
$15.91฿526
83.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.66CHF 20.12
$3.07฿102
703.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$49.49CHF 40.39
$9.87฿326
401.42%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.63฿86.8
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.10฿36.19
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.63฿53.8
-
Tomato(1kg)
$8.85CHF 7.23
$1.53฿50.6
478.43%
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.24฿41.13
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.13฿37.37
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.74฿24.38
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42CHF 1.98
$0.50฿16.48
384.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.28฿141
-
Wine(Bottle)
$12.25CHF 10.00
$17.97฿594
-31.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70฿56.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿95.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.48CHF 2.03
$0.94฿31.13
163.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.23฿40.76
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.53฿17.66
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.40฿79.3
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.45CHF 2.00
$1.44฿47.55
70.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K฿700.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.3K฿902.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.1CHF 71.9
$64.9฿2,145
35.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.26CHF 27.15
$13.35฿441
149.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.24CHF 36.11
$20.83฿688
112.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$122CHF 99.6
$40.42฿1,336
201.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.83CHF 16.18
$6.71฿222
195.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$787฿26.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.1K฿499.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$56.2฿1,858
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.95฿824
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$92.7฿3,063
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$75.1฿2,482
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,848CHF 1,508
$484฿16.0K
282.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$287฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,075CHF 2,509
$910฿30.1K
238.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.0KCHF 8,186
$1,980฿65.4K
406.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,223CHF 5,079
$1,451฿47.9K
328.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Schaan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,726CHF 7,121
$605฿20.0K
1341.71%
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 Schaan: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,848 in Schaan versus $484 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 1342% higher in Schaan, 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 $88.0 in Schaan versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $242 – 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
Schaan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Schaan or Chiang Mai?
Schaan costs about 37% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Schaan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,949 per month in Schaan and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Schaan or Chiang Mai?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Schaan compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,299 in Schaan and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Schaan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 127% more in Schaan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Schaan or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Schaan at $1,299. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schaan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Schaan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,299 in Schaan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Schaan compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Schaan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Schaan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.