๐A single person spends $1,963 per month in Birkerรธd vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,914 per month in Birkerรธd vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,865 per month in Birkerรธd vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐Birkerรธd costs about 126% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Birkerรธd sits 46% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.52DKKย 74.2
$1.98เธฟ64.3
481.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7DKKย 339
$18.80เธฟ612
180.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.89DKKย 76.6
$7.75เธฟ252
53.42%
Cappuccino
$4.53DKKย 29.19
$1.92เธฟ62.5
135.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74DKKย 24.09
$0.79เธฟ25.79
373.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73DKKย 17.55
$0.36เธฟ11.62
658.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.36DKKย 40.97
$2.21เธฟ72.1
187.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81DKKย 24.52
$3.66เธฟ119
4.10%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97DKKย 12.69
$1.65เธฟ53.8
19.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03DKKย 19.49
$1.63เธฟ53.2
85.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07DKKย 13.33
$1.19เธฟ38.86
73.95%
Eggs
$5.28DKKย 33.98
$2.00เธฟ65.1
164.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.76DKKย 56.5
$15.98เธฟ520
-45.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.51DKKย 48.39
$3.03เธฟ98.5
147.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.70DKKย 88.3
$10.86เธฟ354
26.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27DKKย 21.07
$2.76เธฟ90.0
18.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52DKKย 16.23
$1.18เธฟ38.42
113.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.74DKKย 24.07
$1.64เธฟ53.5
128.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37DKKย 15.24
$1.52เธฟ49.51
55.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98DKKย 12.74
$1.38เธฟ45.10
43.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13DKKย 13.69
$1.19เธฟ38.84
78.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.24DKKย 14.46
$0.70เธฟ22.86
220.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07DKKย 6.89
$0.56เธฟ18.13
91.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.27DKKย 66.2
$4.58เธฟ149
124.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.68DKKย 75.2
$16.56เธฟ539
-29.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81DKKย 11.67
$1.83เธฟ59.5
-1.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81DKKย 5.19
$3.20เธฟ104
-74.69%
๐ Getting Around
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.77DKKย 24.27
$0.88เธฟ28.56
328.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.3DKKย 504
$18.72เธฟ610
318.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.74DKKย 49.85
$1.36เธฟ44.16
469.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65DKKย 10.63
$1.34เธฟ43.65
23.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$109DKKย 699
$7.84เธฟ256
1284.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25DKKย 14.50
$1.23เธฟ39.92
82.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.5KDKKย 325.0K
$21.6Kเธฟ704.3K
133.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$51.0KDKKย 328.2K
$22.5Kเธฟ734.3K
126.03%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$199DKKย 1,282
$70.5เธฟ2,298
182.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.32DKKย 112
$13.68เธฟ445
26.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.53DKKย 274
$17.45เธฟ568
143.72%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.28DKKย 272
$41.33เธฟ1,346
2.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.34DKKย 189
$6.96เธฟ227
321.55%
Cinema Ticket
$19.87DKKย 128
$5.77เธฟ188
244.37%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$596DKKย 3,838
$307เธฟ10.0K
94.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,964DKKย 38.4K
$14.6Kเธฟ475.9K
-59.18%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$128DKKย 827
$55.8เธฟ1,817
130.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7DKKย 346
$26.21เธฟ854
105.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141DKKย 909
$85.8เธฟ2,793
64.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$192DKKย 1,235
$72.2เธฟ2,353
165.52%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$923DKKย 5,943
$430เธฟ14.0K
114.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698DKKย 4,493
$239เธฟ7,774
192.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,546DKKย 9,959
$817เธฟ26.6K
89.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,164DKKย 7,497
$511เธฟ16.6K
127.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,242DKKย 33.8K
$1,983เธฟ64.6K
164.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,754DKKย 24.2K
$1,484เธฟ48.3K
152.99%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Birkerรธd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619เธฟ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.19
5
-16.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Birkerรธd: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $923 in Birkerรธd versus $430 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Birkerรธd versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $241 โ 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
Birkerรธd vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Birkerรธd and Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,963 in Birkerรธd, $869 in Chiang Mai โ roughly 126% apart. Birkerรธd costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Birkerรธd compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,944 per month in Birkerรธd and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Birkerรธd and 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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Birkerรธd or Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,963 in Birkerรธd and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Birkerรธd and Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 318% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Birkerรธd at $1,963. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Birkerรธd it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Birkerรธd and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Chiang Mai to $1,963 in Birkerรธd. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Birkerรธd or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Birkerรธd and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Birkerรธd makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.