Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,772 per month in Solothurn vs $942 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,442 per month in Solothurn vs $1,427 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,112 per month in Solothurn vs $1,912 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Solothurn costs about 194% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Solothurn sits 106% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.06 CHF 24.90
$2.08 ฿69.4
1345.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 CHF 119
$19.91 ฿664
621.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.29 CHF 15.15
$5.58 ฿186
227.78%
Cappuccino
$6.85 CHF 5.68
$1.74 ฿58.0
293.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38 CHF 4.46
$0.72 ฿24.01
647.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19 CHF 4.30
$0.32 ฿10.67
1521.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.73 CHF 5.58
$2.25 ฿75.1
199.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 CHF 5.01
$3.81 ฿127
58.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 CHF 1.82
$2.02 ฿67.4
8.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 CHF 3.19
$1.57 ฿52.4
145.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.58 CHF 2.97
$1.40 ฿46.58
155.71%
Eggs
$8.43 CHF 6.98
$2.15 ฿71.8
292.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.67 CHF 18.77
$15.63 ฿522
45.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.03 CHF 21.56
$2.95 ฿98.3
782.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$60.9 CHF 50.4
$9.49 ฿317
541.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 CHF 2.40
$2.60 ฿86.9
11.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 CHF 1.23
$1.08 ฿36.08
37.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.58 CHF 2.97
$1.59 ฿53.1
125.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.36 CHF 3.61
$1.45 ฿48.47
200.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 CHF 1.36
$1.28 ฿42.60
28.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 CHF 1.46
$1.11 ฿37.07
58.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 CHF 1.34
$0.73 ฿24.23
121.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 CHF 0.85
$0.50 ฿16.67
104.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.00 CHF 9.11
$4.27 ฿143
157.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.32 CHF 11.03
$17.67 ฿590
-24.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 CHF 2.27
$1.68 ฿56.1
63.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 CHF 2.70
$2.80 ฿93.5
16.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.89 CHF 4.05
$0.87 ฿28.87
462.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.2 ฿1,808
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.10 CHF 6.71
$1.21 ฿40.47
569.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.59 CHF 3.81
$0.54 ฿17.98
750.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$90.9 CHF 75.3
$2.39 ฿79.6
3705.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 CHF 1.87
$1.46 ฿48.84
54.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K CHF 24.9K
$21.0K ฿701.2K
43.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K CHF 29.6K
$26.7K ฿890.8K
33.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 CHF 79.7
$62.1 ฿2,071
55.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.73 CHF 25.45
$12.93 ฿431
137.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8 CHF 47.86
$20.61 ฿688
180.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$91.6 CHF 75.9
$39.21 ฿1,308
133.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88 CHF 13.98
$3.77 ฿126
347.75%
Cinema Ticket
$18.40 CHF 15.24
$6.52 ฿217
182.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,596 CHF 2,979
$803 ฿26.8K
347.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.3K CHF 16.0K
$14.7K ฿490.4K
31.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$146 CHF 121
$55.9 ฿1,864
160.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.52 CHF 35.22
$25.51 ฿851
66.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$164 CHF 136
$91.1 ฿3,039
80.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$262 CHF 217
$73.3 ฿2,446
257.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,177 CHF 975
$484 ฿16.1K
143.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 CHF 879
$288 ฿9,617
268.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,792 CHF 1,484
$885 ฿29.5K
102.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,787 CHF 1,480
$523 ฿17.5K
241.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,748 CHF 8,074
$1,989 ฿66.4K
390.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,792 CHF 3,969
$1,440 ฿48.1K
232.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solothurn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,001 CHF 5,799
$603 ฿20.1K
1061.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.07
5.57
-62.84%

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

Last update for Solothurn: September 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,177 in Solothurn 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 1061% higher in Solothurn, 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 $144 in Solothurn versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $238 – 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
Solothurn vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Solothurn or Chiang Mai?
Solothurn costs about 194% 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 Solothurn and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,158 per month in Solothurn and $1,414 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Solothurn 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 do dining costs compare in Solothurn and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Solothurn and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Solothurn or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 162% more in Solothurn, 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 Solothurn or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $942, than in Solothurn at $2,772. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solothurn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Solothurn or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $942 versus $2,772 in Solothurn. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Solothurn 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 Solothurn or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Solothurn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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