😐A single person spends $3,865 per month in St. Moritz vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $6,642 per month in St. Moritz vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $9,420 per month in St. Moritz vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐St. Moritz costs about 354% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊St. Moritz sits 189% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.31CHF 24.77
$1.96฿64.0
1497.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$150CHF 118
$18.81฿615
696.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.03CHF 11.89
$7.92฿259
89.77%
Cappuccino
$6.14CHF 4.86
$1.91฿62.6
221.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46CHF 4.32
$0.84฿27.41
550.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76CHF 3.76
$0.35฿11.51
1260.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.02CHF 7.92
$2.21฿72.1
353.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03CHF 4.77
$3.80฿124
58.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33CHF 1.05
$1.64฿53.5
-18.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44CHF 2.72
$1.62฿53.1
112.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.11CHF 3.25
$1.18฿38.62
248.31%
Eggs
$7.45CHF 5.90
$2.01฿65.8
270.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.79CHF 23.56
$15.89฿520
87.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$33.95CHF 26.85
$3.01฿98.5
1027.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$50.4CHF 39.84
$10.77฿352
367.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09CHF 3.23
$2.61฿85.5
56.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92CHF 2.31
$1.22฿39.88
139.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.15CHF 2.49
$1.70฿55.7
85.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.05CHF 3.99
$1.58฿51.5
219.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.82CHF 2.23
$1.32฿43.14
113.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31CHF 1.82
$1.17฿38.23
97.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51CHF 1.99
$0.67฿21.98
274.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73CHF 1.37
$0.56฿18.32
208.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.87CHF 8.60
$4.53฿148
139.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.15CHF 11.98
$18.20฿595
-16.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75CHF 2.18
$1.83฿60.0
50.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21CHF 2.54
$3.23฿106
-0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.83CHF 3.03
$0.89฿29.00
330.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.2CHF 74.5
$19.38฿634
385.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.60CHF 6.01
$1.35฿44.20
462.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.58CHF 3.63
$1.35฿44.05
239.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$86.6CHF 68.5
$8.25฿270
949.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.77
$1.27฿41.64
76.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3KCHF 31.9K
$21.2K฿691.8K
90.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4KCHF 31.2K
$22.5K฿735.3K
75.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.5CHF 78.7
$70.2฿2,294
41.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.21CHF 28.64
$13.77฿450
162.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8CHF 47.30
$17.60฿575
239.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.0CHF 57.7
$41.57฿1,360
75.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.20CHF 15.19
$5.78฿189
232.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,465CHF 2,741
$306฿10.0K
1031.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$39.6KCHF 31.3K
$14.8K฿484.8K
167.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137CHF 109
$54.4฿1,778
152.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5CHF 48.68
$26.14฿855
135.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$150CHF 118
$84.5฿2,764
76.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$205CHF 162
$69.4฿2,270
194.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,709CHF 1,351
$424฿13.9K
303.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,982CHF 1,568
$238฿7,788
732.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,826CHF 2,236
$825฿27.0K
242.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,665CHF 3,690
$515฿16.8K
805.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.8KCHF 10.1K
$1,523฿49.8K
741.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Moritz
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,994CHF 3,950
$635฿20.8K
686.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.8
5
-64.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for St. Moritz: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,709 in St. Moritz versus $424 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 686% higher in St. Moritz, 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 $150 in St. Moritz versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $674 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
St. Moritz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, St. Moritz or Chiang Mai?
St. Moritz costs about 354% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 St. Moritz vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,797 per month in St. Moritz and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, St. Moritz 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 childcare costs compare in St. Moritz and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $3,465 per month in St. Moritz and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in St. Moritz or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 177% more in St. Moritz, 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 St. Moritz or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in St. Moritz at $3,865. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in St. Moritz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, St. Moritz or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,865 in St. Moritz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is St. Moritz 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 St. Moritz or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St. Moritz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
St. Moritz vs other spots: cost of living compared