😐A single person spends $2,572 per month in Apeldoorn vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,653 per month in Apeldoorn vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,734 per month in Apeldoorn vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Apeldoorn costs about 197% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Apeldoorn sits 92% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.62€17.74
$1.94฿63.5
962.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1€68.9
$18.64฿609
329.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.14€11.31
$7.82฿255
68.03%
Cappuccino
$4.26€3.67
$1.95฿63.8
118.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61€3.10
$0.85฿27.77
324.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.86
$0.35฿11.58
851.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93€5.10
$2.13฿69.6
178.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.20€4.47
$3.73฿122
39.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.06
$1.71฿56.0
-28.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49€2.14
$1.63฿53.2
52.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.36€2.89
$1.14฿37.15
194.74%
Eggs
$4.72€4.06
$1.93฿63.1
144.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.16€11.32
$16.21฿530
-18.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.72€13.52
$3.12฿102
403.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.33€14.90
$10.90฿356
58.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€2.00
$2.75฿90.0
-15.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60€2.23
$1.21฿39.52
114.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.62฿53.0
29.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.01€3.45
$1.59฿51.8
152.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$1.40฿45.70
51.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35€2.02
$1.17฿38.17
100.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21€1.05
$0.66฿21.60
83.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.67
$0.53฿17.22
45.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.53€12.50
$4.69฿153
209.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.47€6.42
$18.66฿609
-59.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49€1.29
$1.80฿58.8
-17.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.23
$3.23฿106
-19.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.24€3.65
$0.90฿29.26
371.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.8€79.0
$19.21฿628
377.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.97€3.42
$1.41฿45.91
181.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.60€2.24
$1.29฿42.12
101.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.81€19.62
$7.84฿256
190.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27€1.95
$1.27฿41.58
78.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.4K
$21.3K฿694.9K
60.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$22.2K฿725.4K
63.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$264€227
$69.1฿2,256
281.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.30€21.76
$14.08฿460
79.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0€46.43
$18.00฿588
199.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.36€30.41
$41.06฿1,341
-13.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.12€35.37
$6.96฿227
490.80%
Cinema Ticket
$16.41€14.12
$5.92฿193
177.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,906€1,639
$299฿9,766
537.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,156€5,295
$15.0K฿488.3K
-58.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.9€79.9
$54.7฿1,787
69.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.67€32.40
$26.77฿874
40.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9€85.9
$85.0฿2,776
17.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.4
$70.6฿2,306
63.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$996€857
$428฿14.0K
132.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,195€1,028
$237฿7,752
403.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651€1,420
$801฿26.2K
106.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712€1,473
$515฿16.8K
232.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,645€3,996
$1,975฿64.5K
135.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,842€3,305
$1,475฿48.2K
160.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apeldoorn
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,412€2,935
$617฿20.2K
452.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.36
5
-12.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Apeldoorn: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $996 in Apeldoorn versus $428 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 453% higher in Apeldoorn, 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 $80.0 in Apeldoorn versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $246 – 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
Apeldoorn vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Apeldoorn?
Yes – Apeldoorn is pricier by about 197%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,858 per month in Apeldoorn and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Apeldoorn or Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Apeldoorn and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Apeldoorn vs Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,572 in Apeldoorn and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Apeldoorn or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Apeldoorn at $2,572. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Apeldoorn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Apeldoorn or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Apeldoorn or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Apeldoorn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.