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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,396 in Aarhus, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,782 in Aarhus, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,167 in Aarhus, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 64% cheaper than Aarhus, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Aarhus is 78% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.6

$23.02 DKK 149

-91.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿615

$116 DKK 749

-83.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿253

$13.99 DKK 90.4

-44.60%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.7

$7.03 DKK 45.45

-72.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ฿25.87

$4.81 DKK 31.10

-83.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.66

$3.07 DKK 19.83

-88.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.3

$9.12 DKK 58.9

-75.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$7.68 DKK 49.60

-52.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.0

$2.00 DKK 12.91

-17.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$3.26 DKK 21.08

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.99

$2.49 DKK 16.07

-52.21%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.3

$4.95 DKK 31.95

-59.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿522

$13.50 DKK 87.2

18.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.9

$10.66 DKK 68.9

-71.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿355

$15.84 DKK 102

-31.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.3

$2.97 DKK 19.17

-7.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.55

$3.21 DKK 20.76

-63.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$3.64 DKK 23.50

-54.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.68

$6.01 DKK 38.80

-74.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.25

$2.30 DKK 14.88

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.97

$1.80 DKK 11.64

-33.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.94

$2.30 DKK 14.89

-69.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.19

$0.78 DKK 5.03

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿150

$10.15 DKK 65.6

-54.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿541

$10.31 DKK 66.6

60.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.7

$1.92 DKK 12.37

-4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$2.11 DKK 13.66

51.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.66

$3.69 DKK 23.82

-76.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿612

$64.7 DKK 418

-71.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.31

$7.82 DKK 50.5

-82.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.80

$1.66 DKK 10.72

-19.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$61.0 DKK 394

-87.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.06

$2.20 DKK 14.22

-44.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ฿706.7K

$48.8K DKK 315.6K

-55.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿736.8K

$49.0K DKK 316.6K

-53.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.5 ฿2,305

$204 DKK 1,316

-65.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.68 ฿447

$20.15 DKK 130

-32.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿570

$41.89 DKK 271

-58.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,351

$48.40 DKK 313

-14.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$35.32 DKK 228

-80.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿189

$18.50 DKK 120

-68.81%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$307 ฿10.0K

$744 DKK 4,804

-58.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿477.5K

$5,755 DKK 37.2K

153.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,823

$104 DKK 675

-46.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿856

$35.77 DKK 231

-26.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,802

$119 DKK 768

-27.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,361

$202 DKK 1,304

-64.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$1,429 DKK 9,231

-69.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,800

$988 DKK 6,382

-75.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.7K

$2,083 DKK 13.5K

-60.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.7K

$1,801 DKK 11.6K

-71.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.8K

$7,984 DKK 51.6K

-75.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.5K

$5,445 DKK 35.2K

-72.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$4,549 DKK 29.4K

-86.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.38

14.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Aarhus: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,429 in Aarhus. 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 635% higher in Aarhus, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $116 in Aarhus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $366 – 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

Chiang Mai vs Aarhus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai, $2,396 in Aarhus – roughly 176% apart. Aarhus costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,594 in Aarhus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 245% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $744 in Aarhus. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Aarhus at $2,396. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aarhus it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Aarhus has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Chiang Mai to $2,396 in Aarhus. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aarhus makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.